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 .