Thiruvananthapuram, September 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had asked him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election on a BJP ticket and indicated that he could become a Union minister if elected.
Thomson said the alleged conversation took place during a flight to Delhi in 2016, when both he and Kumar were serving in government. According to Thomson, Kumar asked whether he would be interested in contesting from Kerala on a BJP ticket and also suggested that he join the BJP after retiring as Chief Secretary.
Thomson, who retired from service in 2016, said he had no interest in entering electoral politics and rejected the suggestion. He said he was surprised that such an offer had come from Kumar while he was still a serving government official.
The allegation comes amid political criticism of Kumar over the functioning of the Election Commission, particularly in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have been demanding his resignation.
Reacting to Thomson’s disclosure, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam launched a sharp attack on the CEC and demanded his immediate resignation.
Viswam described the alleged offer as “shameless” and questioned Kumar’s political affiliations and conduct while in government service. He alleged that Kumar had become an insider of the BJP through the successive positions he held.
Viswam had also criticised the Election Commission’s functioning on Friday, alleging that the poll panel was acting in the interests of BJP governments and calling on Left parties to protest.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has rejected claims that objections raised by other Election Commissioners amounted to institutional dissent, saying that queries, observations and technical suggestions are part of the normal functioning of a multi-member constitutional body.
Kumar has not publicly responded to Thomson’s allegations, according to reports.
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