Archive · 24 Nov 2025
Bengal BLOs Protest Work Pressure Amid SIR Exercise
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in West Bengal are very stressed because of extra work for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.
Two BLOs have died by suicide, and others are sick.
They are planning to march in Kolkata to protest.
The Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, asked the Election Commission to stop the SIR, but the BJP opposes her.
The BJP also says more voters are in areas near Bangladesh.
The Election Commission is trying to fix problems like slow internet and late payments to help the BLOs.
BLOs in West Bengal plan to march in Kolkata to protest against excessive work pressure and systemic lapses in the SIR exercise.
Two BLOs have died by suicide, and others have fallen ill due to stress from SIR-related work.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked the Election Commission to halt the SIR exercise, but BJP leader Rahul Sinha dismissed her claims.
The Election Commission is addressing issues like network problems and late payments to support BLOs.
BJP claims that districts bordering Bangladesh have seen the highest increase in voters since the last SIR in 2002.
- Who
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP leader Rahul Sinha, Election Commission of India (ECI)
- What
- BLOs protesting against work pressure, hospitalisation and suicides due to stress from SIR duty, political allegations regarding SIR assistance camp, network issues faced by BLOs, increase in voters in border districts
- When
- November 2021, November 2025
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- Why
- Due to stress from additional duties during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, political opposition, technical issues, and alleged voter increase in border districts
- Poll-bound state
- West Bengal, India
- Process in question
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
- Date of BLO's suicide
- November 2021
- Date of BLO's hospitalisation
- November 2021
- Chief Minister
- Mamata Banerjee
- Opposition leader
- Rahul Sinha
- BLOs' protest date
- Monday, November 2025
- SIR assistance camp incident location
- Kalyani, Nadia district
Sources
Bengal Teacher Hospitalised, Family Claims Stress Due To SIR Duty
Congress Prez Kharge Alleges BJP’s ‘Vote Theft’ Led to BLO, Polling Officer Suicides
BLOs to hold march in Kolkata on Monday to protest against work pressure under SIR exercise
Forced to work at govt schools before SIR’s duty: Teachers complain to ECI
TMC alleges BJP set fire to SIR assistance camp in Kalyani, BJP denies charge - Telegraph India
SIR exercise: Bengal CEO to hold meeting with telecom companies to resolve network issues faced by BLOs
Bangladesh-bordering districts saw maximum surge in voters, claims BJP quoting ECI data
Irfan Ansari’s ‘Lock the BLO Inside’ Line Sparks Controversy, Says He Meant to Protect BLOs
