Thiruvananthapuram – A massive political controversy has erupted in Kerala just weeks before the state goes to the polls on April 9, 2026. The row centers on an official document from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kerala, which was found to be carrying the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The incident has provided fresh ammunition to the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF, both of whom have accused the Election Commission (EC) of institutional bias.
The document in question is an affidavit attached to a letter dated March 19, 2019. It contains guidelines regarding the mandatory publication of criminal antecedents by political candidates. While the letter was meant to provide neutral instructions to all political parties, the presence of a “BJP Kerala State Committee” seal on the official circular has raised serious questions about the administrative boundaries between the poll panel and the ruling party at the Centre.
The Spark: CPI(M) and Congress Flag the “Error”
The issue first came to light on Monday, March 23, when the official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handles of the CPI(M) Kerala and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) shared images of the controversial document. The CPI(M) was particularly sharp in its criticism, asking if “all pretences have been dropped.”
“It is no secret that the same power centre seems to control both the Election Commission of India and the BJP,” the CPI(M) stated in a strongly worded post. The party further remarked that “seals are being casually swapped,” comparing the incident to long-standing allegations regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The Congress party echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the neutrality of the election process in Kerala was being compromised.
Election Commission’s Defense: A “Clerical Error”
As the controversy threatened to overshadow the final day of nomination filings, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U. Kelkar issued a formal clarification late Monday evening. The CEO’s office attributed the presence of the BJP seal to a “clerical error” and “oversight” by the staff.
According to the official explanation, the BJP Kerala unit had recently approached the CEO’s office seeking a clarification on the 2019 guidelines. When the party submitted their request, they reportedly attached a photocopy of the original 2019 directive. The BJP had already affixed its party seal to that specific photocopy for its internal records.
“Due to an oversight, the office failed to notice the party symbol on the submitted document and inadvertently redistributed it to other political parties as part of the requested clarification,” the CEO’s statement read. The office further noted that once the mistake was identified, the document was immediately withdrawn, and all political parties, District Election Officers, and Returning Officers were notified in writing to disregard it.
Action Taken: Suspension and Rectification
To contain the damage, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer announced that the Assistant Section Officer responsible for handling the file has been placed under suspension pending a full inquiry. The CEO urged the media and the public to refrain from spreading “misleading messages,” asserting that the Election Commission maintains a “rigorous and foolproof system” to ensure free and fair elections.
Despite these assurances, the political climate remains tense. The LDF and UDF leaders have pointed out that the document was sent from an official Election Commission email ID, making it a formal communication. They argue that such a “mistake” should not have been possible in a high-stakes environment like the Kerala Assembly Elections.
The Broader Political Context in Kerala
This controversy comes at a time when political tensions are already at an all-time high.
- The Guruvayur MCC Case: Just a day prior, the EC had ordered a case against BJP candidate B. Gopalakrishnan for alleged communal remarks during his campaign in Guruvayur.
- The “B-Team” Allegations: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has consistently accused the Congress of being the BJP’s “B-Team,” while the Congress observer Sachin Pilot recently alleged a “covert understanding” between the BJP and the CPI(M) to weaken the UDF.
The “BJP Seal” incident has now become a central talking point, with the opposition claiming it is proof of institutional “merging” between the poll body and the BJP.
FAQs
1. What exactly happened with the Election Commission document in Kerala?
A 2019 letter from the Election Commission regarding the publication of criminal records of candidates was sent to political parties recently. However, this specific copy carried the official seal of the BJP Kerala unit instead of the EC’s seal, sparking a major political row.
2. How did the BJP seal get onto an official Election Commission letter?
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, the BJP Kerala unit had submitted a photocopy of the 2019 letter while seeking a clarification. The BJP had put its own seal on that copy. The EC office then accidentally photocopied and distributed that same paper to other parties without noticing the BJP seal.
3. What action has been taken against the officials involved?
The Assistant Section Officer who was dealing with the file has been suspended. The CEO has also issued a formal withdrawal notice to all parties and district officers, asking them to ignore the erroneous document.
4. Why is the opposition (CPI(M) and Congress) so angry about a “clerical error”?
The opposition argues that such an error shows a lack of neutrality. They claim that the boundaries between the Election Commission and the BJP have blurred, and they fear this could impact the fairness of the upcoming April 9 elections.
5. Is the document still valid?
No. The document has been officially withdrawn by the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer. The EC clarified that the 2019 guidelines have since been revised, and the updated rules have already been shared with all candidates.