Jharkhand minister Irfan Ansari's 'lock BLOs inside' remarks stir political row

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Jharkhand health minister Irfan Ansari has sparked a political controversy after launching an attack on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and signalling that he intends to obstruct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, as per reports.

His comments, made during a public meeting, quickly snowballed into a political row as he reportedly asked locals to not hesitate in “tying up" the BLO, if they come to their house for SIR.

At the gathering, Ansari accused BLOs of hindering key administrative activities, including the SIR drive. Urging locals to resist the exercise, he reportedly said, “Everyone should protest against SIR. If the BLO comes to your house, lock them inside. The BLO is coming to delete names (from the voter list). Lock him inside the house and release him after I arrive."

His remarks prompted immediate backlash and sharpened the ongoing debate over voter list verification.

Even before the controversy, the Congress’ Jharkhand unit had ramped up preparations for the SIR, announcing that Booth Level Agents would be in place by December 15. The Times of India quoted state in-charge K Raju on vigilance: “The upcoming SIR process in Jharkhand is going to be very crucial. Around 56 lakh people were removed from the voter list in Bihar. The party must remain vigilant to ensure that such a situation does not arise in the state."

The party has repeatedly argued that the voter roll revision could be misused to strike off opposition supporters or marginalised communities, calling the entire exercise an attempt to “steal" votes.

SIR को लेकर मंत्री डॉ. इरफान का बयान न सिर्फ गैर-जिम्मेदाराना है, बल्कि जनता को गुमराह करने की कोशिश भी है। बीएलओ जैसे ज़मीनी स्तर पर काम करने वाले अधिकारी जब घर-घर जाकर सत्यापन करते हैं, तो उन्हें बांधने की बात करना प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था और लोकतांत्रिक मर्यादा का अपमान है। ऐसे बयान… pic.twitter.com/PHd3zmJQpk

— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) November 24, 2025

The BJP, meanwhile, defended the SIR as necessary for removing outdated entries such as dead, duplicate or otherwise ineligible voters -- an effort it frames as strengthening electoral credibility.

The Election Commission has been supporting that rationale, saying that up-to-date rolls are vital for ensuring that only qualified citizens remain listed.

Reacting strongly to Ansari’s comments, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey criticised the minister on X, calling the remarks both “irresponsible" and misleading.

He wrote, “When officials working at the grassroots level, such as BLOs, conduct verification by going door-to-door, to talk of tying their hands is an insult to the administrative system and democratic decorum. Such statements spread confusion in society. The Congress has always played this kind of politics and has supported Bangladeshi infiltrators."