With the Kerala Assembly polls approaching, a controversy has erupted after a BJP seal was reportedly found on an official Election Commission of India (ECI) letter. The CPI(M) has alleged a conspiracy, reiterating its long-standing claim that the poll body is "rigged."
CPI(M) had posted the letter on their official party handle, and it was widely circulated on social media.
Have all pretences been dropped by the BJP?
— CPI(M) Kerala (@CPIMKerala) March 23, 2026
It is no secret that the same power centre seems to control both the Election Commission of India and the BJP. Even then, at least maintain the courtesy of two separate desks.
Now even that seems unnecessary.
Seals are being casually… pic.twitter.com/MfMXNaXTgk
Kerala Police had issued a notice to a Uttar Pradesh journalist for posting the EC letter with the BJP seal.
I have full respect for the election commission of India which is the most impartial constitutional body of the country. Gyanesh Kumar as its chief has led a historic term and is the most successful election commissioner of India till date. Is it okay, @TheKeralaPolice? https://t.co/gBwaCoCVdr
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) March 24, 2026
By flagging the letter on X, CPI(M) asked, "Have all pretences been dropped by the BJP?
"It is no secret that the same power centre seems to control both the Election Commission of India and the BJP. Even then, at least maintain the courtesy of two separate desks," the party wrote.
"Seals are being causally swapped," it added.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala, meanwhile, dismissed the incident as "purely a clerical error." The BJP had recently submitted a photocopy of a 2019 directive while seeking clarification on guidelines regarding the publication of candidates' criminal antecedents. The party seal was already present on that copy, the office added.
“Clerical error,” they say.
— CPI(M) Kerala (@CPIMKerala) March 24, 2026
A BJP seal on an Election Commission document - reduced to a casual mistake and quietly withdrawn.
This is a serious institutional lapse.
When the line between the ruling party and constitutional bodies begins to blur, it is not an “error” - it is a… pic.twitter.com/Dbbuqw15pV
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, it further said.
The CEO also said that the mistake was identified and rectified immediately.
Further to the clarification issued in the matter, the Assistant Section Officer dealing with the file in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer has been placed under suspension pending enquiry. The original communication sent to all political parties is available at page 29… https://t.co/ZkPZPNNMo0
— Chief Electoral Officer Kerala (@Ceokerala) March 23, 2026
Taking action, an Assistant Section Officer handling the file was suspended pending an enquiry.
Urging restraint, the CEO's office appealed to the public and media not to spread "misleading messages".
