Written by Shaju PhilipThiruvananthapuram | December 27, 2025 06:00 AM IST 2 min readCurrently one of the state secretaries of the BJP, Rajesh has been a Councillor since 2020Senior BJP leader V V Rajesh was on Friday sworn in as the mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation.In the recent elections, the BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the corporation, winning 50 of the 101 seats, ending the 45-year-long uninterrupted regime of CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).Currently one of the state secretaries of the BJP, Rajesh has been a Councillor since 2020. He was fielded again after the party decided for a crucial battle in the state capital region, which has emerged as key to its electoral plans in Kerala.In the 2021 Assembly elections, Rajesh, then the BJP district president, unsuccessfully contested from Vattiyoorkavu seat.The 50-year-old leader, who has risen through the party youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), is a lawyer by profession. On Thursday, a day before voting was held to elected the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the BJP ensured the support of Independent councillor Radhakrishnan.A former spokesperson of the party and a familiar face on TV debates, Rajesh has been in the forefront of agitations.In 2018, when the BJP led massive protests against the entry of menstruating women into the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala temple, Rajesh had led the agitations in the state capital. By selecting Rajesh to head the corporation, the BJP has sent a strong message that leaders and cadres who have toiled over decades matter for the party.Story continues below this adAfter getting elected as mayor, Rajesh told the media, “In the next five years, the capital will be converted into one of the three most developed cities of the country.”Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Thiruvananthapuram