Former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson Alleges CEC Gyanesh Kumar Solicited Him to Contest as BJP Candidate in 2016

Former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, then an IAS officer, approached him in 2016 on a flight to Delhi and persuaded him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate from Pathanamthitta constituency. According to Thomson, Kumar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and suggested Thomson could become an MP or Cabinet Minister if elected. Thomson stated he declined the offer promptly, citing his position as Kerala Chief Secretary at the time.

The allegation comes amid ongoing Opposition criticism of CEC Kumar over electoral matters. The timing of Thomson's claim appears to support Opposition arguments that portray Kumar as sympathetic to the BJP.