FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Blo | History Defined

Hyderabad Muslim voters say BJP BLA sought their deletion despite knowing them since childhood

“We’ve known Balu since our childhood. We grew up together,” 30-year-old Mohammed Shareef said. He was referring to SV Balachander, the booth level agent (BLA) for polling station 210 under Hyderabad’s Musheerabad Assembly constituency.

Newslaundry · Oct 3

Karnataka: FIRs registered against BJP leaders for alleged attempt to delete names of Muslim voters

Multiple FIRs have been registered in Karnataka over alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Cases in Belagavi, Bidar and Mysuru involve allegations of fraudulent Form-7 applications, forged documents and attempts to remove voters' names from electoral rolls. Police said investigations are underway, while Karnataka…

The Economic Times · Oct 2

In seat Kejriwal lost by thin margin, nearly 40% names added before 2025 polls missing in SIR draft

An analysis of the New Delhi constituency shows that voters added to the rolls in the two months before the February 2025 elections have been disproportionately removed in this year’s SIR draft.

Newslaundry · Sep 16

‘11-hour days, zero rest’: Delhi’s teachers say they are breaking under SIR duty

“We are not computers or robots that we will do BLO work after teaching hours too,” says Rajat*, a higher secondary teacher in Ambedkar Nagar, South Delhi.

Newslaundry · Aug 3

Election Commission starts SIR voter list verification in Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Meghalaya and Jharkhand: Important FAQs and what happens if you're not at home?

The Election Commission of India has initiated a Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls across Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand. Booth Level Officers are conducting door-to-door verification to update electoral data, ensuring accuracy by identifying eligible voters and removing ineligible entries. This crucial exercise aims to maintain clean voter…

The Economic Times · Jun 30

Over 13,000 BLOs hit the ground as SIR of voter list kicks off in Delhi

Delhi's extensive electoral roll revision is underway, with over 13,000 booth-level officers conducting door-to-door surveys until July 29. Voters must fill out enumeration forms to remain on the rolls, with draft lists published August 5 and final lists on October 7. Political parties are assisting residents in this crucial exercise…

The Economic Times · Jun 30

My passport gives me a vote in UK, but not in my own home in Bengal

“Didi, amake ki Bangladesh pathiye debe?” (Sister, will they send me to Bangladesh?)

Newslaundry · Apr 21

‘I’ll kill myself’: Rajasthan BLO says ‘pressure’ to ‘delete Muslim votes’ in seat BJP won with thin margin

“I will visit the collector’s office and will kill myself there,” Kirti Kumar can be heard shouting over a phone call in a video circulating on social media.

Newslaundry · Jan 15

‘Denied medical leave’, booked for ‘not signing attendance’: BLOs say UP SIR is inhumane

Amid reports of suicides by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, the Gautam Buddha Nagar administration registered FIRs on November 22 against over 60 BLOs and seven supervisors across three police stations for alleged negligence and disobedience.

Newslaundry · Nov 28, 2025

How booth-level officers in Bihar are deleting voters arbitrarily

Jhurana Das made Bihar her home more than four decades ago. She moved to the state as a 23-year-old bride. It is where she built her life, and it is where she lost her husband to a kidney ailment last year. Now, as Jhurana approaches 70, she has to prove…

Newslaundry · Sep 13, 2025