India
oi-Swastika Sruti
It has been alleged by Jiji Thomson, who was once the chief secretary of Kerala, that the then CEC, Gyanesh Kumar, had asked him to contest the Lok Sabha election in 2019 on the BJP ticket while travelling to Delhi in 2016.
Former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson alleged current CEC Gyanesh Kumar asked him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election for the BJP in 2016, amid ongoing Election Commission controversies regarding electoral rolls and internal disagreements.
However, he refused. This comes amidst a situation where the Election Commission finds itself under a cloud of controversy regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and rifts within its members.
Jiji Thomson’s allegation is only his personal version of what transpired in a conversation between him and Gyanesh Kumar in 2016. This alone doesn’t provide any evidence about any further involvement of Kumar in elections.
Thomson Says He Was Asked To Contest From Pathanamthitta
According to Thomson, Kumar, who is regarded as his friend, enquired from him about his future plan following his retirement while they were traveling together.
Thomson alleged that he informed Kumar about his desire to work on a project concerning children.
He further alleged that it was then that Kumar proposed that he should contest the Lok Sabha seat of Pathanamthitta in Kerala on behalf of the BJP.
“I promptly refused the proposal,” Thomson said while narrating the incident.
Kumar is an IAS officer of Kerala cadre. He retired from his service in January 2024 and subsequently joined the post of Chief Election Commissioner.
Rahul Gandhi Reacts To Thomson’s Claim
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cited Thomson’s account while attacking the Election Commission.
Gandhi alleged that Kumar had earlier been involved in recruiting candidates for the BJP and later became responsible for conducting elections as CEC.
However, Thomson’s account only concerns the alleged conversation in 2016. It does not provide evidence for the broader allegation that Kumar subsequently interfered with or manipulated elections.
The Kerala Congress also raised questions over the account, asking why a serving IAS officer would discuss a possible political candidature with a retired or retiring bureaucrat.
Claims Come Amid SIR Controversy
The latest controversy comes amid a wider political debate over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has faced criticism from opposition parties over the process, while the poll panel has defended the exercise as part of its responsibility to maintain accurate electoral rolls.
The controversy has also intensified following reports of differences between Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi and CEC Gyanesh Kumar over certain decisions.
Reported Differences Within Election Commission
According to the Indian Express investigation, Sandhu and Joshi raised objections against some decisions made between October 2025 and August 2026.
The disputed areas mentioned by the investigation included voter registration and delisting, appeals on decisions about the electoral roll, access to voter information and matters related to SIR.
The Election Commission argued that different opinions may arise in the three-member constitutional body. It has further stated that the decision regarding SIR was approved by the Commission.
The poll panel has also issued clarifications on concerns about its electoral technology and statutory functions of the electoral roll are in the hands of the designated officers.
What Thomson’s Claim Means
Thomson’s statement has added another political dimension to the ongoing debate around the Election Commission.
At present, the claim is based on Thomson’s own recollection of a private conversation. It does not independently establish that Kumar acted on the alleged suggestion or that the conversation had any connection with the Election Commission’s later functioning.
The allegations and counterclaims are likely to remain part of the wider political debate as opposition parties continue to question the SIR exercise and the functioning of the poll panel.
