Kerala Assembly poll 2026: CM tells CEC that BJP seal issue cannot be trifled away as clerical error

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to the Chief Election Commissioner that disseminating information, by forwarding a circular/ order/ notification of the Election Commission of India (EC) with the stamp and seal of a political party — specifically, the ruling party at the Centre — cannot be trifled away as a clerical error.

In a sharply worded communication to the CEC, Mr. Vijayan said while he appreciated the pressure under which the officials of the Election Commission were working, sending out important communications without vetting by senior officials cannot be dismissed as a mere error or a casual omission.

He was referring to the furore that had erupted in the public sphere following the controversy that a circular issued by the EC and sent to all political parties had carried a seal of the ruling BJP. The incident had triggered a major row with the Opposition political parties alleging that the said circular was a clear indication of the deep connection between the BJP at the Centre and the EC.

The EC had admitted the error and had sought to explain it as a clerical mistake, for which it had taken one of its staff members to task.

Mr. Vijayan was also critical about the manner in which the EC had chosen to react to the comments and criticisms that had flooded the social media following the incident. He condemned the police action recommended by the CEC against members of the public, who had taken to the social media in a major way to criticise and speculate on the incident.

The Chief Minister pointed out that it was but natural that in a democracy, an incident such as this would attract comments and criticism from the public .

However, unless these comments and criticisms by the public exceeded the limits of decency or became derogatory or assumed the form of personal attacks, such reactions from the public should be seen as expression of opinions.

He requested the intervention of the CEC to ensure that the instructions of the EC do not become the cause for indiscriminate action against all criticisms and comments by people.

Mr. Vijayan pointed out that the Chief Election Officer in Kerala had already declared that there would be an internal inquiry. He requested that the political parties as well as the public are kept informed about the findings of the inquiry, in the best interests of the transparency of the electoral process.