Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the death of some Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in various states, the Congress on Sunday (November 23, 2025) alleged that the workload is forcing BLOs and polling officers to end their lives, and claimed that the “hasty” implementation of SIR is reminiscent of demonetisation and the COVID-19 lockdown.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the BJP’s “vote chori” has now taken a deadly turn.
Mr. Kharge shared on X a media report which claimed that in 19 days, there have been deaths of 16 BLOs during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The workload is forcing BLOs and polling officers to end their lives, the Congress chief said.
“My deepest condolences to every family who has lost a loved one. Based on ground reality, this number is far higher than reported, which is extremely worrying. Who will provide justice to these families?” Mr. Kharge said in his post in Hindi.
“The BJP is busy enjoying the fruits of stolen power, while the Election Commission of India is watching as a mute spectator,” he charged.
“The hasty, unplanned forced implementation of SIR is reminiscent of demonetisation and the COVID-19 lockdown,” Mr. Kharge claimed.
The BJP’s hunger for power is driving institutions to force deaths, shredding of the Constitution, and weakening of democracy through misuse of power, he alleged.
“Enough is enough! If we still don’t wake up, no one can save the last pillars of democracy from collapsing. Those who remain silent on SIR and vote theft are responsible for the deaths of these innocent BLOs. Raise your voice, save democracy!” Mr. Kharge said.
A woman working as a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in West Bengal’s Nadia district was found dead at her residence on Saturday (November 22, 2025), with her family members claiming that she was under considerable SIR work-related stress and ended her life, police said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the BLO’s death and said this has become “truly alarming now”.
The CM shared a note left behind by the deceased. In the note, the deceased held the ECI responsible for this consequence. Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha, however, claimed that note is ‘fake’.
Also, two teachers-cum-BLOs tasked with conducting a voter list survey for SIR died of “illness” in Raisen and Damoh districts of Madhya Pradesh on Friday (November 21, 2025), officials said.
Published – November 23, 2025 02:41 pm IST
