Grassroots poll workers in West Bengal erupted in anger on Monday as hundreds of booth-level officers (BLOs) gathered outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office in Kolkata, protesting long hours, low pay and mounting pressure during the ongoing revision of voter lists. The agitation, organised by the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee, sparked tense scenes as protesters clashed with police deployed in riot gear.
Protest intensifies amid police barricades
According to visuals shared by media, a large crowd of BLOs pushed against barricades, demanding relief from what they allege are harsh conditions under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Several participants attempted to break through police lines while chanting slogans against the state administration.
The protest escalated just before Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and a group of BJP MLAs arrived for a scheduled meeting at the CEO’s office. As the police cordoned off the area, opposing slogan-shouting bouts erupted between BJP workers and the BLOs’ group, forcing officers to maintain tight control.
Despite the commotion, Adhikari managed to enter the building with other BJP leaders.
BJP slams Trinamool over BLO payments
After the meeting, Adhikari criticised the state government’s stance on the SIR exercise, questioning why the administration would object to the revision process while continuing to pay honorariums to booth-level officers.
Meanwhile, there has been no official response from the ruling Trinamool Congress or the Bengal government on the unrest.
Workers flag stress, low pay and rising deaths
BLOs—responsible for door-to-door verification of voter details, adding new voters and correcting entries—said they are burdened with targets and forced to travel long distances while juggling regular day jobs. Their current honorarium stands at just ₹1,000 per month.
In recent weeks, deaths of BLOs have been reported from multiple states, highlighting severe stress linked to the re-verification process. One widely shared case involved a 46-year-old school teacher from Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad, who recorded a video apologising to his family before his death.
SIR sparks political, legal dispute ahead of elections
With West Bengal headed for Assembly elections in the coming months, the voter roll re-verification drive has triggered a storm of allegations. The opposition, including the Trinamool Congress, has accused the Election Commission and the BJP-led central government of manipulating electoral rolls for political gains.