Thiruvananthapuram: The ‘IPS’ title printed alongside former DGP R Sreelekha’s name has been removed from campaign materials featuring her as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s mayoral candidate for the Corporation. The action followed a complaint filed by Aam Aadmi Party candidate T S Rashmi.

The complaint argued that using the IPS designation after retirement is illegal. Following this, the ‘IPS’ tag appearing on some of Sreelekha’s posters was removed, and BJP workers added the term ‘retired’ to campaign materials in several other locations.

Sreelekha, the BJP candidate from Sasthamangalam, said the absence of the IPS title made no difference as “everyone already knows who I am”. While her posters and flex boards earlier displayed either ‘IPS’, the writings on the wall featured ‘IPS (Retd)’. The nameboard in front of her election office now displays only her name.

The Election Commission has distanced itself from this move, stating that the action may have been undertaken by the Returning Officer. Onmanorama contacted officials for clarification, but they were not immediately available for comment.