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Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said “anarchy” has been spread across the country under the guise of special intensive revision of electoral rolls and alleged that 16 booth-level officials have died due to the tension.
SIR is operational in nine states and three union territories. The first phase of SIR was conducted in Bihar ahead of the state assembly elections.
Rahul Gandhi alleged in a post in Hindi on
“SIR is a calculated ploy – where civilians are being harassed and BLO deaths are dismissed as “collateral damage” due to unnecessary pressure. This is not a failure, this is a conspiracy – a sacrifice of democracy to protect those in power,” the Congress MP alleged.
According to media reports shared by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, 16 BLOs have died in six states, including four each in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, three in West Bengal, two in Rajasthan and one each in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
As the death of a BLO sparked a political controversy in West Bengal, Governor CV Anand Bose on Sunday said the death of BLO Shanti Muni Ekka, who allegedly took his life due to “unbearable pressure” of the SIR of the voter list, will be investigated in detail.
“In such a situation, it is better to avoid reacting without thinking. What the Chief Minister said should be examined in detail. I am sure we have an Election Commission which is strong enough and has a balanced approach. All these issues can be properly examined and appropriate solutions can be found, but there is a need for free and fair elections in this country,” the Governor said.
BLO commits suicide in West Bengal
A woman working as a booth level officer (BLO) in West Bengal’s Nadia district was found hanging at her residence on Saturday, police said, with her family members claiming she was under immense stress from SIR work and died by suicide.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the death of the BLO and said it had now become “really worrying”.
In the “suicide note” shared by the Chief Minister on social media, the woman held the ECI responsible.
Besides, two teachers working as BLOs for the SIR exercise in Raisen and Damoh districts of Madhya Pradesh died of the “illness” on Friday.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress will hold an internal meeting on November 24, which will be chaired by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The objective of this meeting will be to review SIR related issues, improvements in several places and districts and ensure that no name is left out.
CM Mamata Banerjee will meet the Matua community in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas on 25 November.
The final voter list will be published on February 7, 2026.
These states and union territories include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
(with inputs from agencies)
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