‘Contest on BJP ticket, become a minister’: Former Kerala Chief Secretary’s claim puts Gyanesh Kumar under fresh fire amid protests

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has made a serious allegation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Jiji Thomson claims Gyanesh Kumar asked him why he did not contest an election on a BJP ticket and told him that he could become a Union minister if he won. Jiji Thomson said he replied that he was not interested in contesting an election. According to him, the conversation took place in 2016 while the two were travelling on a flight to Delhi. Jiji Thomson made the revelation in an interview with a media outlet. Gyanesh Kumar allegedly made the suggestion while Jiji Thomson was still in government service. The revelation comes amid demands from some NDA allies for an explanation from Gyanesh Kumar over the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) have publicly raised concerns. LJP (Ram Vilas) leader and Union minister Chirag Paswan said the Election Commission must address people's concerns and maintain their trust. “It is the responsibility of the Chief Election Commissioner,” Paswan said. The NDA allies' position comes as the BJP has rejected allegations, including those of “vote theft”, raised by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Opposition parties and Left student organisations also took to the streets across the country on Friday, demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The Congress organised marches to Election Commission offices in various states. In Delhi, protests were held near the Election Commission headquarters, at Jantar Mantar and near the BJP's national headquarters. The Cockroach Janta Party also announced that it would launch a nationwide agitation demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.