‘Jiji Thomson once praised Narendra Modi, expressed interest in joining BJP’; reveals BJP state secretary 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state secretary Jiji Joseph alleged that former Kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson had expressed interest in joining the BJP. In a Facebook post, he said that a senior leader held in the highest regard by Sangh Parivar workers in Kerala had told him about the matter. He also shared a photograph of Jiji Thomson attending an event organised by the BJP's Minority Morcha in Kochi to honour Mar Chrysostom Thirumeni.

‘Jiji Thomson was invited by Gyanesh Kumar to become BJP candidate and was promised a ministerial post if won, according to the revelation. The Minority Morcha organised an event in Kochi to honour Mar Chrysostom Thirumeni. A senior leader who is highly respected by Sangh Parivar workers in Kerala called me and said, Jiji Thomson should be invited to the event. He has expressed interest in joining us. Accordingly, I invited him, and he attended the event, where he praised Narendra Modi and the actions of the central government,’ said Jiji Joseph’s Facebook post.

Former chief secretary Jiji Thomson had earlier revealed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had asked him to contest elections on a BJP ticket. He made the revelation during a television channel interview.

Jiji Thomson claimed that Gyanesh Kumar directed him to contest on a BJP ticket while they were travelling on a flight to Delhi, shortly before Thomson was due to retire as Kerala's chief secretary. Gyanesh Kumar was then an officer in the union home ministry.

Thomson said he was asked to contest from the Pathanamthitta constituency as a BJP candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He told me to contest as a BJP candidate, become an MP, and then become a minister. That was how he said I should move forward. This happened in 2016. I had rejected the proposal immediately,’ said Jiji Thomson.