Published Sep 26, 2026 | 8:46 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 26, 2026 | 9:37 PM
Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar
Synopsis: A CPI(M) leader and two former senior IAS officers have come out against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of causing a loss to the State exchequer, dabbling in politics, and making wrong decisions.
The political controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has opened an unusual Keralam chapter, with a CPI(M) leader, a former chief secretary and a former Chief Electoral Officer separately raising questions about episodes linked to Kumar’s career.
Former minister and CPI(M) leader TM Thomas Isaac revisited a controversy from Kumar’s tenure as Kerala PWD secretary in 2006.
Jiji Thomson, Former Chief Secretary, alleged that the CEC had approached him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate.
Former Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena has, meanwhile, questioned the legality of decisions Kumar has taken during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The claims came amid reports of differences within the Election Commission over several decisions concerning electoral-roll management.
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In a social media post, Isaac sought to draw attention to a 2006 PWD episode involving Kumar. The IAS officer then had a brief tenure as the PWD secretary in the LDF government led by VS Achuthanandan.
Kumar had taken charge of the department after the LDF government assumed office in 2006.
Isaac alleged that he was shifted out of the PWD later that year after a vigilance inquiry was ordered into allegations arising from the Kerala State Transport Project, a World Bank-funded road project.
The controversy followed the suicide of Lee Bin Seen, an engineer associated with the Malaysian company Patibell, which was involved in a section of the project. Isaac said Lee’s suicide note alleged corruption and mismanagement involving PWD officials and named Kumar in connection with an alleged demand for a bribe.
The allegations prompted a Vigilance inquiry, while Kumar was subsequently moved to the Union Defence Ministry.
Isaac’s post also detailed the dispute between the PWD and the contractor over project execution. The original contract was valued at around ₹216 crore.
According to Isaac, delays in acquiring and handing over land slowed progress, while the PWD and contractor blamed each other.
He alleged that only around ₹70 crore in bills had been cleared at one stage, while payments of about ₹13 crore remained pending. The contractor, Isaac, claimed he repeatedly objected to the failure to provide the required land.
Isaac claimed the dispute eventually led the government to pay around ₹35 crore in compensation in 2007, clear pending bills, and approve a revised estimate to complete the work. He argued that the cost of a project originally estimated at ₹216 crore consequently rose to around ₹330 crore.
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Isaac also traced Kumar’s subsequent postings, including his tenure at Kerala House as Resident Commissioner in 2012 during the UDF government’s term and his later move to the Union government.
He particularly referred to Kumar’s role in the division of Kashmir after the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre, linking him to the administrative changes that followed the abrogation of Article 370.
Isaac further alleged that Kumar played a role in the arrangements surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi temple trust.
Isaac also questioned the circumstances surrounding Kumar’s appointment as CEC in 2025.
Kumar became the first CEC appointed under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
The legislation changed the selection committee’s composition by replacing the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
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A separate allegation has now come from former Keralam Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson.
In an interview with Malayala Manorama, Thomson said Kumar had once suggested that he contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate from Pathanamthitta.
Thomson said the conversation took place during a flight to Delhi in 2016, when he was still serving as chief secretary.
The former chief secretary said Kumar asked about his plans and suggested that he enter electoral politics as a BJP candidate. He said Kumar told him that a victory could eventually pave the way for a ministerial position at the Centre.
Thomson said he rejected the proposal immediately as he had no interest in contesting elections.
He also said he was surprised that such a suggestion had come from an officer holding Kumar’s position.
The claim has added another political layer to the criticism directed at the CEC.
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Former Keralam Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena, meanwhile, questioned Kumar’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Meena, also Kumar’s IAS batchmate, alleged that several SIR-related decisions were taken unilaterally.
His main objection concerns Form 6, the application used to include a person’s name in the electoral roll.
Meena alleged that the form’s format was changed without the President’s approval, which he said the relevant legal framework required.
He said decisions taken by Kumar in this regard should be reviewed and argued that the Election Commission should function through collective decision-making.
Meena also said Kumar should step down if he no longer enjoys public confidence.
His comments came in an interaction with Malayala Manorama daily.
The developments have therefore brought three distinct voices from Keralam into the wider controversy surrounding Kumar.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
