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.

As the Winter Session of Parliament opened today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp message to the Opposition, urging members to prioritise constructive work over disruptions. The session, scheduled to run till December 19, includes 15 sittings and the introduction of 13 Bills. The Opposition, meanwhile, is preparing to raise concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

PM Modi’s remarks on Opposition conduct

Addressing reporters ahead of the session, the Prime Minister took a clear swipe at the Congress, stating that certain parties were unable to accept their loss in the Bihar elections. He said Parliament must not turn into a site of “meltdown” and emphasised that those interested in “drama” should do it elsewhere, asserting that “there should be delivery here, not drama.”

PM Modi noted that the large voter turnout in Bihar and strong participation by women had strengthened faith in democracy. He added that young MPs should be given more opportunities to voice issues and urged the Opposition not to “sacrifice MPs for their disappointment and defeat.”

He criticised what he described as a trend among some parties to vent their anger in Parliament, saying such tactics were no longer effective.

Priyanka Gandhi responds

Responding sharply to the Prime Minister’s comments, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the Opposition was only demanding discussions on real issues such as SIR and air pollution. “Let us discuss them. What is the Parliament for? Speaking about and raising issues is not drama,” she said, adding that refusing to allow democratic discussion was the real “drama”.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, declined to comment on the Prime Minister’s attack when asked by reporters.

As Parliament’s Winter Session opens today, several contentious issues — from the voter list revision to the FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi — are set to dominate the political landscape. The Opposition has lined up demands for multiple debates, signalling a stormy session ahead.

Major flashpoints set the tone

The FIR filed against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case is expected to be a key point of confrontation between the Opposition and the BJP. The matter is likely to spark heated exchanges on the floor of both Houses.

Opposition pushes for debate on SIR

Opposition parties have demanded a discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Trinamool Congress has argued that inadequate planning has burdened election staff, linking the recent death of a Bengal polling official to work-related strain.

National security and pollution on agenda

Leaders from 36 parties, during the all-party meet, sought a debate on the Delhi blast and wider national security issues. With the national capital battling severe air pollution, demands have also been raised for a discussion on environmental concerns.

Government calls for cooperation

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that while some Opposition leaders may raise a ruckus over SIR, no party indicated plans to disrupt proceedings. He stressed that Parliament has established procedures to address every issue.

Session schedule

The Winter Session is set to run till December 19, featuring 15 sittings over 19 days. The government plans to introduce 13 legislative bills and one financial bill during this period.