Protest Erupts Outside Election Office in Bengal Over SIR; BLOs Clash with Police, Mamata Backs Agitation

Kolkata: Tensions escalated outside the Election Commission office in Kolkata on Monday as protesters rallied against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in West Bengal. The agitation, led by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), continued late into the night, with demonstrators attempting to enter the CEO office, leading to scuffles with police.

Protest Details
Members of the BLO Rights Protection Committee marched from College Square in North Kolkata, symbolically locking the main gate of the CEO office with chains and locks. Protesters demanded clarity on the SIR process and alleged excessive and inhumane workload during the revision. Some claimed that two BLOs had taken their own lives due to the stress.

One protester, a teacher from Murshidabad, said, “The SIR process, which normally takes two years, is being rushed in just two months. We fear mass deletion of voter names, similar to what happened in Bihar. Thousands of BLOs were present here; we will continue our protest through the night until our concerns are addressed.”

Another teacher supporting the BLOs added, “We are here to ensure the BLOs’ grievances reach the Election Commission. We will not disperse until officials meet us.”

Political Reactions
The BJP in North Kolkata, led by District President Tamoghna Ghosh, accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) of orchestrating the midnight attempt to breach the CEO office, calling the act a display of hooliganism. Ghosh clarified that actual BLOs were not involved in the attempted intrusion.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over the SIR process, urging the Election Commission for immediate intervention. In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, she described the process as unplanned, disorganized, and hazardous, citing gaps in training, documentation, and accessibility for voters.

Nationwide Context
The SIR process is currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The final voter lists are scheduled to be published on 7 February 2026, with draft lists released on 9 December 2025.

The BLOs’ committee warned that if deadlines are not extended or corrective measures not taken, they will continue their agitation with intensified protests.