Former Kerala chief secretary says election suggestion from Gyanesh Kumar was informal

Former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson says Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar suggested that he contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from Pathanamthitta. Thomson told The Hindu that the conversation took place during a flight to Delhi in 2015-16, while he was still serving as chief secretary and nearing the end of his career. He said Kumar asked about his retirement plans before making the suggestion.

According to Thomson, Kumar told him that he was a good speaker, could enter politics and had a strong chance of winning. Thomson said Kumar also referred to his minority background and the possibility of a Cabinet position, at a time when the BJP was seeking Christian candidates in Kerala. Thomson said he declined because he was not ambitious.

He later clarified that the conversation was a friendly suggestion and not an offer, after his earlier remarks generated political controversy. He also referred to reports that he might receive a senior government posting if the United Democratic Front returned to power in Kerala. Thomson said his priority had instead been Bhaavika, a charitable organisation that runs a free student enrichment programme.

The account concerns a conversation from more than a decade ago and does not indicate that Thomson contested the election or that a formal political offer was made. Kumar’s response is not included in the supplied material.