CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has renewed his call for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign after former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson made a fresh claim about a conversation involving electoral politics.
Sharing a report on the allegation, Dipke wrote, “Gyanu must go.” He also posted a sarcastic remark questioning whether Kumar could oversee free and fair elections.
What Jiji Thomson claimed
Thomson said Kumar approached the subject while the two were travelling together on a flight during his tenure as Kerala chief secretary.
He claimed Kumar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked whether he would be interested in contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Pathanamthitta as a BJP candidate. Thomson said he declined the suggestion.
The claim concerns a private conversation. The reports reviewed do not establish that Kumar was authorised by the BJP to formally offer Thomson a ticket.
There is also no publicly presented documentary evidence in these reports confirming that such an offer was approved by BJP leaders.
Why Dipke reacted
Dipke had already demanded Kumar’s resignation before Thomson’s statement emerged. On September 24, the CJP gave the CEC 48 hours to step down and warned of nationwide protests if he remained in office.
Thomson’s claim has now added another element to Dipke’s criticism of the CEC.
Kumar is a 1988-batch Kerala-cadre IAS officer and took charge as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner on February 19, 2025, the Election Commission’s official profile confirms.
What remains unclear
Thomson’s account remains an allegation about a conversation said to have occurred in 2016. The available reports do not independently establish that the BJP authorised Kumar to approach Thomson.
A specific public response from Kumar addressing Thomson’s allegation was not identified in the sources reviewed.
Further clarification from Kumar or the BJP could therefore determine whether additional evidence or a competing account of the conversation emerges.
Sources
Primary/official source: Election Commission of India — official profile of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Original reporting: Onmanorama — Jiji Thomson’s account of his alleged conversation with Kumar.
Dipke reaction: Hindustan Times — report on Dipke’s “Gyanu must go” response.
CJP resignation demand: India Today and Business Standard — reports on the CJP’s 48-hour deadline and protest announcement.
