BLOs Protest During EC Training, Demand Official Duty Status and Enhanced Security Measures

PTI KOLKATA, NOV 1, 2025 :  The Election Commission on Saturday conducted a training programme for booth-level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, even as a section of participants raised objections over administrative and security arrangements. The training programme, being held across various districts, is set to conclude by November 3, with the SIR process scheduled to begin the following day, officials said.

In South Kolkata's Nazrul Mancha, training was underway for BLOs from Bhabanipur, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, Tollygunge, Kasba, Jadavpur, Metiabruz, Behala Purba, and Behala Paschim assembly constituencies, they added. The sessions are being conducted in batches.

The Election Commission has issued a 16-point guideline for BLOs as part of the SIR exercise and introduced a new mobile app to streamline field operations, officials said. During the training, BLOs are being provided with special kits and detailed instructions on the SIR process, they added.

From November 4 to December 4, BLOs will visit households to carry out voter verification and form-filling tasks. However, a section of BLOs objected to the administrative and security arrangements during the sessions, demanding formal recognition of their duty status, proper documentation, and additional security measures.

Teachers deputed as BLOs have protested the decision of school authorities to mark them as absent in attendance registers during the training period. They insist that their participation in the BLO assignment be officially recorded as "on duty." Additionally, a large section of BLOs has demanded central security cover for both training and fieldwork, warning that they will abstain from duty unless safety measures are strengthened.

At Nazrul Mancha, participants alleged that the Election Commission (EC) failed to issue any valid proof of attendance or training documentation that could be presented to their respective departments. Similar protests were reported from the Sub-Divisional Office (SDO) in Durgapur, where BLOs jointly demonstrated their grievances.

"The form we were given today does not mention any official reference to the BLO training. We cannot present this at our schools as proof of attendance. Earlier, proper documentation was provided. We demand similar certification for today as well," a teacher said.

Another participant added: "We are willing to work, but the Commission must provide us with proper documentation and security. Without these, we cannot continue." Some participants claimed that while earlier sessions included proper certification, the forms distributed on Saturday lacked any official mention of the training.