Kharge slams BJP over BLO suicides during SIR Phase II
Kharge slams BJP over BLO suicides during SIR Phase II
Congress chief Kharge accuses BJP as BLO deaths mount during SIR Phase II, urging accountability amid the ongoing electoral revision.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack after several Booth Level Officers died by suicide amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. He described the situation as a forced push to implement SIR, likening it to the demonetization and COVID lockdown eras, and warned that the BJP’s hunger for power was taking a deadly turn. He questioned the silence of the Election Commission and urged people to raise their voices against what he called an overburdened system driving officers to despair.
The controversy comes as SIR Phase II expands across 12 states and union territories, with supporters and critics alike pointing to overburdened BLOs and polling staff as the revision work accelerates. Kharge cited ground realities suggesting the reported numbers could be far higher, warning that without proper planning, the process risks amplifying human costs while alleged vote theft allegations swirl around the exercise.
Specific incidents have rocked parts of the country, including a BLO death in Kannur, Kerala, followed by another in West Bengal, prompting fresh questions about workload, welfare, and procedural safeguards for those on the frontline of elections. Kharge reiterated that the families who have lost loved ones deserve justice and extended condolences to them, while insisting that accountability must follow the process, not be an afterthought.
Kharge also appealed to the public to join the outrage and demand answers, arguing that the BJP’s approach to SIR reflects a broader pattern of power consolidation at any cost. The opposition has signaled it will keep pressing the issue in Parliament and in public demonstrations as the revision continues.
In related developments, demonstrations and calls for a Delhi rally have been discussed by opposition circles, highlighting a broader strategy to challenge the government over what is described as “vote chori” through the SIR exercise. The unfolding events have intensified debates about electoral integrity, staff welfare, and the balance between efficient voter rolls and the safety and wellbeing of those who administer them.
Cover image source: Congress chief Kharge slams BJP over deaths of electoral officials during SIR Phase II 🔗
