Nationwide chaos during SIR, 16 BLOs dead, alleges Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi

Hours after several Congress leaders expressed serious concerns regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in nine states and two Union Territories, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that "chaos" has been created nationwide under the guise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

He claimed that 16 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have died due to stress and overwork during the ongoing revision exercise.

In a post on X written in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, "Under the guise of SIR, chaos has been unleashed across the country - the result? In three weeks, 16 BLOs have lost their lives. Heart attacks, stress, suicides - SIR is no reform, it's an imposed tyranny." He further alleged that SIR is a "calculated ploy" where citizens are being harassed, while the deaths of BLOs due to pressure are dismissed as "collateral damage." According to him, this is "not a failure but a conspiracy" meant to safeguard those in power at the cost of democracy.

The SIR process is currently underway in nine states and three Union Territories, with its first phase conducted in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections. The final electoral list is expected to be released in February 2026.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress will conduct an internal meeting on November 24, chaired by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, to review SIR-related issues, assess improvements across districts, and ensure no voter is left out. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also set to meet members of the Matua community in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, on November 25.

The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on February 7, 2026. The states and UTs involved in the SIR include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.