Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Bengal's Special Voter Roll Revision Faces Protest Over Workload and Allegations
Imagine people who help with voting lists are like special helpers for elections.
These helpers, called BLOs, are saying their job is too hard!
Many of them also have other jobs, like being teachers, and they have to do both.
They are worried about working too many hours.
Some important people in the government are making sure everything runs smoothly, like checking that forms are given out.
Ministers are also checking on these helpers.
But one person from a political party said something about the helpers that made others upset, saying they might remove people's names from the voting list.
The helpers are worried about this kind of talk and are asking for their work to be more manageable.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Malda protested an 'inhuman workload' on the eve of Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Many BLOs are also teachers, struggling to balance their primary job duties with election responsibilities, leading to long work hours.
BLOs reported facing political pressure and alleged targeting regarding the SIR process.
A Trinamool leader's statement that BLOs might 'eliminate people’s names as voters' drew criticism from BJP and Left parties.
Ministers are overseeing the SIR rollout across Bengal, with some attending cabinet meetings and others monitoring preparations in their respective areas.
- Who
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Malda, political parties, Trinamool leader Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury, Chief Electoral Officer's office, District Magistrates, and government ministers.
- What
- Protests by BLOs against 'inhuman workload' and concerns over political pressure during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alongside ministerial duties overseeing the process.
- When
- Starting Tuesday, with protests occurring on Monday.
- Where
- Bengal, specifically Malda for the BLO protest, and various districts for ministerial oversight and SIR camps.
- Why
- BLOs are protesting the excessive workload due to combining their primary jobs with election duties and alleged political targeting. Ministers are involved in overseeing the SIR rollout.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
Trinamool Leader
Workload
Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
BLOs are protesting an 'inhuman workload' due to the dual responsibilities of their primary jobs (often teaching) and their duties in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, leading to 8-10 hour workdays.
Trinamool Leader
Not applicable to this point as the article does not present a counter-argument from the Trinamool leader regarding the workload.
Role in Voter Roll Revision
Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
BLOs are concerned about their role and alleged political pressure, stating they are targeted on the SIR issue.
Trinamool Leader
A Trinamool leader alleged that BLOs would 'visit homes to eliminate people's names as voters,' a statement criticized by other political parties.
- Event
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Start Date
- Tuesday (Implied from first article), November 4 (for BLA involvement)
- Protesting Group
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Malda
- Key Issue
- Inhuman workload, dual responsibilities, political pressure, and alleged misinformation.
- BLA Appointment Target
- Around 81,000 across the state