Jiji Thomson, the former Chief Secretary of Kerala, has made public allegations regarding a political offer he claims to have received in 2016. According to Thomson, Gyanesh Kumar—who is currently serving as an Election Commissioner—approached him with an offer to run for office on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket during the 2016 Kerala assembly elections.

These allegations have surfaced at a time when the Election Commission is under intense public and political scrutiny. The commission is currently facing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, as well as reports of internal disagreements among the three-member panel. Thomson’s comments were made via local media outlets, adding a layer of political tension to the existing debate surrounding the commission's operations.

While Thomson has been vocal about this past interaction, there has been no immediate public response or confirmation from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission regarding the validity of these claims. The timing of the disclosure is notable, as it links a high-ranking official currently overseeing electoral processes to a specific political recruitment effort from several years ago. The situation remains a developing story as observers weigh the implications of these claims on the perceived neutrality of the Election Commission.