Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 9 (PTI) Newly elected BJP councillors of the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, along with other civic body representatives from the state, left for Delhi on Monday at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The delegation, led by Mayor V V Rajesh, departed by the Kerala Express amid intense sloganeering by a large number of party workers gathered at the railway station.
BJP state General Secretary S Suresh flagged off the delegation by handing over the party flag at the station.
According to party sources, the 115-member delegation set out for the national capital to take part in a special administrative and governance skills development camp (Delhi Pravas).
In Ernakulam, BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar received the Delhi Pravas delegation.
Party district units also accorded receptions to the team at Thrissur and Coimbatore.
Receptions are scheduled at Warangal, Vijayawada, and Nagpur on Tuesday, with further welcomes planned by state units in Jhansi, Gwalior, and Mathura.
In Delhi, the delegation will be received by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The delegation includes all councillors of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of BJP-ruled municipalities, presidents of gram panchayats, and parliamentary party leaders.
The elected representatives are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi at his official residence on the evening of February 12. The delegation will also visit the residence of Union Minister George Kurian, Mayor Rajesh told reporters before embarking on the journey.
The Delhi tour will be used to gain first-hand knowledge and training on higher-level democratic mechanisms, the mayor said.
He added that discussions would also be held with union ministers on ways to further improve development in Thiruvananthapuram and across Kerala.
The delegation is also scheduled to visit Parliament to gain a first-hand understanding of its procedures.
BJP sources said the visit would provide a major boost in implementing Central government schemes at the grassroots level and strengthening various development initiatives.
Several councillors expressed happiness over the PM’s invitation, describing it as a “rare opportunity.” However, the absence of former DGP-turned-BJP councillor R Sreelekha from the Delhi trip sparked widespread discussion, with speculation that she had skipped the visit due to differences with the BJP state leadership.
Later in the day, Sreelekha issued a clarification dismissing the speculation.
In a video message, she said it would be difficult for her to undertake a three-day train journey. She added that although the party leadership had offered to book a flight ticket for her, she declined, as she did not wish to incur unnecessary expenditure. PTI LGK SSK
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