Bengal BLOs On SIR Duty Demand Security, Threaten To Boycott Work Amid ‘Political Threat’

Last Updated:November 02, 2025, 5:44 PM IST

SIR of electoral rolls in 12 states and union territories, including Bengal, from November 4.

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deployed on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duty in West Bengal demanded central forces’ protection amid “political threat.” Ahead of the house-to-house voter enumeration starting on Tuesday, the BLOs raised safety concerns and threatened to boycott work without proper safety measures.

As per a report by Hindustan Times, several BLOs raised safety concerns before WBCEO’s office during training sessions on Saturday.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and union territories, including Bengal, from November 4.

BLOs Demand Safety And Official Acknowledgement

Along with beefed-up security, BLOs also demanded an ‘on duty slip’ to skip school and work as BLOs. One of the BLOs told HT that if an official acknowledgement is not provided, they will have to work both in office and as BLO.

The Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have already filed cross-complaints of intimidation.

West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) wrote a letter to the Chief Election Officer (CEO) of West Bengal to file an FIR against Trinamool Congress leader Girindranath Barman for allegedly threatening the Booth Level Officer (BLO).

The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari also criticised the TMC over the incident.

Sharing a post on X, Suvendu Adhikari said, “I am compelled to bring to your urgent attention Mr.@CEOWestBengal, a brazen act of intimidation that reeks of the despotic playbook TMC has perfected over the years. The air is thick with threats. Girindranath Barman, the TMC’s Cooch Behar district Chairman, a man who masquerades as a leader but behaves like a local Don, has publicly declared war on the very BLOs tasked with upholding the sanctity of our electoral rolls.”

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