Controversy Erupts as Former Kerala Chief Secretary Accuses CEC Gyanesh Kumar of Past BJP Lobbying
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has been thrust into a fresh political firestorm following allegations by former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson. The retired bureaucrat has claimed that the current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, attempted to recruit him into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while both were serving as senior IAS officers in 2016.
Allegations of Political Persuasion
According to Thomson, the interaction occurred during a flight to the national capital. He alleges that Kumar, who was a Kerala-cadre IAS officer at the time, spoke extensively about the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actively lobbied him to consider running for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate from Pathanamthitta.
“He was very persuasive, but I declined it promptly,” Thomson stated in comments shared with local media. Thomson further alleged that this was not a singular incident, claiming that Kumar had previously tried to steer him toward active politics on an earlier occasion.
These allegations have provided fresh ammunition to the Opposition, particularly the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi took to social media to criticize the development, stating that an official tasked with overseeing free and fair elections had a history of “recruiting” for a political party.
Internal Dissent within the Poll Panel
The allegations against the CEC emerge at a time when the Election Commission is already grappling with reports of internal friction. Recent media coverage, including reports by The Indian Express, suggests that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have documented objections on at least 14 occasions over the past ten months. These concerns reportedly involve the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, specifically regarding centralized control over voter databases and procedural changes to registration forms.
Election Commission’s Response
The Election Commission has vehemently denied any administrative dysfunction. In a formal statement released on Saturday, the body asserted that all decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision were reached unanimously by the three-member panel. Regarding the letters sent by the other two Commissioners to the Cabinet Secretary, the Commission clarified that these communications were limited to personnel matters concerning an officer on deputation and were unrelated to policy or IT division directives. The Commission further emphasized that the modifications to voter enrolment forms had received explicit approval from the Supreme Court.
Political Fallout and Future Strategy
The BJP and its allies have defended the Commission, arguing that the allegations are part of a manufactured campaign to undermine constitutional institutions. Party leadership claims that the internal clarification provided by the Commission effectively debunks the “misleading” narrative pushed by the Opposition.
However, the INDIA bloc remains unconvinced. The coalition has scheduled a high-level meeting for September 30 at the Constitution Club in New Delhi to formalize their strategy. Opposition leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and senior CPI(M) figures, have intensified calls for accountability, with the removal of the CEC reportedly topping their agenda. As of now, Gyanesh Kumar has not issued a personal response to the claims made by Jiji Thomson.
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