Gyanesh Kumar suggested I contest on BJP ticket in 2019, says ex-Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson

Former Keralam Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson revealed on Saturday (September 26) that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had suggested he contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from Pathanamthitta.

“It was not an offer but a friendly suggestion. I was serving as the Chief Secretary of Keralam and was nearing the end of my career when, on a flight to Delhi, Mr. Kumar asked about my retirement plans. I said I had no such plans whatsoever. It was at this point that he suggested I could contest from the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency for the BJP,” Mr. Thomson told The Hindu.

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What he said was, “You are a good speaker; you can actually enter politics and you have a very good chance of getting elected”. He said since I belonged to a minority community, I would easily get a Cabinet berth. That was a time when the BJP was looking for Christian candidates in Keralam. But I said I am not too ambitious,” Mr. Thomson said.

Mr. Thomson clarified that it was a “friendly suggestion” and not an offer after his earlier remarks about the conversation triggered a political controversy. The conversation took place during a flight to Delhi in the 2015-16 period.

Mr Thomson also referred to reports speculating that he could get a senior government posting if the UDF returned to power in the State.

“But my priority has always been to focus on Bhaavika, a charitable organisation which runs a student enrichment programme absolutely free of cost,” he said.