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A big and shocking news related to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Election Commission has become the center of discussion in the political circles of the country these days. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was already on the opposition’s radar over some election decisions and claims of internal disagreements, but now a new and sensational claim by former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has given a new twist to this controversy. After this revelation by Thomson, the opposition parties, especially the Congress Party, have got another big weapon to attack the Central Government and the Election Commission.
This question is increasingly being asked in political and administrative circles that who is Jiji Thomson and why is there so much commotion in the political circles after his statement? Let us know the entire truth of this controversy and Jiji Thomson’s claim, which has created a stir from Delhi to Kerala.
According to media reports and public statements, former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has claimed that she met Gyanesh Kumar in 2016 when he was on a flight to Delhi. According to Thomson, during that time there were talks between the two regarding administrative and future plans. During the conversation, Gyanesh Kumar asked him what are his future plans after retirement? To this Thomson replied that he wanted to work on some social project related to the welfare of children.
Jiji Thomson claims that soon after this Gyanesh Kumar suggested her to enter politics. According to Thomson, Gyanesh Kumar had advised him to contest elections from Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat of Kerala on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket and also said that through this he could become an MP and then a minister. However, Thomson says that he rejected the proposal outright at the time. Most importantly, at the time when this alleged conversation took place, Gyanesh Kumar was in government service and he has retired from his government service in January 2024.
Jiji Thomson has been a highly distinguished and senior IAS officer of Kerala cadre. He was a 1980 batch IAS officer and has served on many important and sensitive posts in the Central and State Government during his 36 year long administrative career.
During his administrative career, Jiji Thomson also did commendable work as the Director General of ‘Sports Authority of India’ (SAI) under the Sports Ministry. Apart from this, he also held the post of Managing Director (MD) of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). In view of his administrative skills, he was appointed the Chief Secretary of Kerala in January 2015, in which post he served with full dedication till February 2016. It is because such a claim is being made by such a senior and experienced former bureaucrat that it is being taken very seriously in political circles.
This revelation by Jiji Thomson was immediately taken up by the Congress party and the opposition and serious questions were raised on the impartiality of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Senior Congress leaders and MP Rahul Gandhi have launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government at the Center and Home Minister Amit Shah on this issue.
The opposition alleges that when Gyanesh Kumar was holding a responsible post in the government service, it is completely unfair to allegedly create political grounds in favor of the ruling party (BJP) and induce officials to contest elections. The opposition argues that the alleged involvement of officials holding constitutional posts in such political activities makes the impartiality of the country’s democratic institutions questionable. After this new controversy comes to light, there are full chances that the political conflict from Parliament to the streets will intensify in the coming days.