BJP-Led Corporation Shuts Down Spa Linked to Minority Morcha Leader; Internal Rift Surfaces

Thiruvananthapuram: The closure of a spa run by a BJP leader in Kerala’s capital has sparked sharp internal tensions within the party. The massage centre, operating under the name Sparshan Spa, was shut down after an inspection by the BJP-led Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council a few days ago. The action was carried out on the direction of Mayor V V Rajesh.

The spa is managed by Shine Lal, the State General Secretary of the BJP Minority Morcha, who had earlier joined the BJP after leaving the Congress. Though the licence is officially in the name of his father, S. Manoharan, the establishment is run by Shine Lal himself. The development has led to murmurs within party circles, with strong indications that factional rivalry inside the BJP played a role in the sudden inspection and closure.

According to the Mayor, the inspection was initiated after information emerged that a young woman who had come for a job interview was treated inappropriately at the spa. During the inspection, Corporation officials found that there were no valid certificates to prove the qualifications of the massage therapists. The authorities also found that proper employee records were not maintained.

Following these findings, the premium section of Sparshan Spa was sealed by the Corporation’s health wing. The move created an uncomfortable situation for the Mayor, as visuals of the spa and news of the action quickly appeared on television channels across the state. By the time senior BJP leaders contacted him, the issue had already gained public attention.