Politics
Ex-Kerala chief secretary alleges 2016 BJP offer
NDTV··27 Sept
Former Kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson alleged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar asked him on a 2016 flight if he would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate from Pathanamthitta. Thomson said he declined promptly and retired in 2016. Abhijeet Dipke renewed calls for Kumar's resignation on Saturday after the Onmanorama report.
Prism
What It Means For You
- The Election Commission said SIR and other key decisions were taken unanimously.
- It said differing views are normal in institutional deliberations.
- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused Kumar of match-fixing elections in a post on X.
What's Happening
- NDTV cited an Onmanorama report quoting Thomson on the 2016 flight conversation.
- Dipke wrote Gyanu must go on Instagram and mocked Kumar on X.
- The CEC faces controversy after an Indian Express report on commissioner dissent.
EC response on Saturday
- Dipke had warned of nationwide protests from Mumbai on October 2 if Kumar did not quit.
- Thomson retired from the chief secretary post in 2016, NDTV reported.
- The poll body said its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
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