SIR in West Bengal: Booth Level Officers call for added security measures against ‘threats’

The BLOs (Booth Level Officers) of West Bengal have continued to express apprehension over participating in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the beginning of the SIR process in West Bengal on October 27.

The BLOs association submitted a deputation to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal on Monday (October 27, 2025) citing safety and security issues.

“Our top priority is the safety of BLOs who are working for the SIR to make the process flawless. There is pressure from many political factions to stop SIR in West Bengal, hence we who work on the ground every day are facing regular threats. We are especially worried about the female BLOs,” Swapan Mandal, General Secretary of Votekormi and BLO Aikya Mancha (Election staff and BLO United Forum), State Committee, told The Hindu after filing their deputation with the CEO, West Bengal.

Their deputation was received by the office of Manoj Kumar Agarwal, CEO, West Bengal.

“We have been reported from various districts that BLOs have been manhandled, threatened to act according to the whims of local leaders. Deploy Paramilitary forces in all sensitive booths/areas,” the deputation filed by the BLO Forum stated. They also called for female force deployment for security of female BLOs.

In his address on Monday (October 27, 2025), Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar also acknowledged the contributions of BLOs in the SIR process. “BLOs are the main link of the SIR process,” Mr Kumar said.

Earlier CEO, West Bengal, had issued show cause notices to nearly 1000 BLOS who had refused to participate in the SIR exercise.

The BLOs were scared because of the ruling party’s “intimidation politics”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership had previously alleged. However, Mr. Mandal said that they are facing “threats and intimidation” from various political parties across the State.

There are 80,681 BLOs in West Bengal according to the data shared by the ECI.

Sources within the CEO, West Bengal, confirmed that the BLOs have been assured of all safety and protection measures once the SIR process starts in the State.

This development assumes significance as preparations for the SIR process in West Bengal are set to start from October 28, where officers will undergo training and between November 4 to December 4 house-to-house enumeration process will take place. Draft electoral rolls are to be published on December 9 and final lists by February 7, 2026 ahead of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections.

While BJP leaders claimed there would be no Assembly election in the State if the SIR was not carried out properly, the Trinamool Congress leadership has publicly warned of massive protests if the names of legitimate voters were struck off from the State’s voter list during the SIR process. Assembly elections in West Bengal are due in 2026.