Ex-Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson Says CEC Gyanesh Kumar Suggested BJP Contest in 2019

Former Keralam Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has said that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar once suggested he enter electoral politics on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency.

Speaking on Saturday, Thomson described the conversation as a friendly suggestion rather than a formal offer, remarks that came after his earlier comments on the episode set off a political controversy.

He recounted that the exchange took place during a flight to Delhi in the 2015-16 period, while he was serving as the State's Chief Secretary and was nearing the end of his career. Kumar, he said, asked about his retirement plans, and he replied that he had none.

It was then, Thomson said, that Kumar suggested he could contest from Pathanamthitta for the BJP, telling him he was a good speaker who could enter politics and had a strong chance of being elected. According to Thomson, Kumar also said that as a member of a minority community he would easily get a Cabinet berth, at a time when the BJP was looking for Christian candidates in Keralam. Thomson said he responded that he was not too ambitious.

He also addressed reports speculating that he could receive a senior government posting if the UDF returned to power in the State. Thomson said his priority has always been Bhaavika, a charitable organisation that runs a student enrichment programme free of cost.