Gyanesh Kumar urged me to contest on BJP ticket: Kerala ex-chief secy Jiji Thomson

Former Kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson has alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had urged him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate from Kerala.

In an interview with Onmanorama, Thomson said Kumar had raised the possibility of him contesting from Pathanamthitta during a flight to Delhi, when Thomson was still serving as Kerala chief secretary. According to Thomson, Kumar spoke highly of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked whether he would be interested in contesting the election as a BJP candidate.

'He insisted several times'

Thomson said he rejected the suggestion despite being pressed by Kumar to consider it. He also recalled another instance from earlier in his career when he had been approached to enter electoral politics and said that he had declined that offer as well.

Also read: Opposition looks beyond INDIA bloc to widen Gyanesh Kumar ouster campaign

“Back then, I was the chief secretary. We were travelling together on a flight. He spoke praising Prime Minister Modi and asked me whether I was interested in contesting from Pathanamthitta as the BJP candidate in the 2019 general election. He insisted several times, but I declined,” said Thomson.

Thomson further claimed that Kumar was aware of his earlier decision to stay away from electoral politics and had subsequently encouraged him to enter politics.

CEC Kumar facing heat

The allegation comes at a politically sensitive time for Kumar, who has faced sustained criticism over the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. An Indian Express report has claimed differences within the Election Commission over aspects of the revision exercise and changes to Form 6, used for enrolling new voters.

Also read: EC SIR row: Situation demands INDIA-plus unity, says MA Baby about phone call with Mamata

Kumar, a 1988-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer, became the 26th Chief Election Commissioner in February 2025. He had served in several positions in Kerala before going on central deputation, including as Ernakulam district collector, Resident Commissioner of Kerala House in New Delhi and Public Works Secretary.

A new dimension to debate

The latest allegation adds a new dimension to the debate over the political neutrality of the Election Commission and its incumbent chief. However, Thomson’s account is a personal recollection of an alleged conversation, and there is no independent evidence cited in the report confirming the conversation or Kumar’s alleged proposal.

Opposition parties have intensified demands for Kumar’s removal amid the controversy surrounding SIR and reported differences within the poll panel. The INDIA bloc is likely to convene in Delhi on September 30 and at least three NDA allies have sought more clarity from the Election Commission regarding the allegations raised in the Indian Express exposé. On Saturday (September 26), the EC came up with a detailed Press note explaining its stand point by point, though not explicitly denying all charges.