BLO's Tragic Death Sparks Political Controversy in Uttar Pradesh
A delegation from the Uttar Pradesh Congress, led by state president Ajay Rai, made a solemn visit on Monday to the grieving family of a booth-level officer from Malihabad's Sarawa village. The officer, identified as Vijay Kumar Verma, reportedly died from a brain hemorrhage that the opposition party claims was directly caused by excessive workload during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise.
Allegations of Election Commission Mismanagement
Congress state president Ajay Rai did not mince words when speaking about the circumstances surrounding Verma's death. "BLO Vijay Kumar Verma reportedly suffered a brain hemorrhage after days of strenuous duty linked to SIR," Rai stated emphatically. The political leader went further to accuse the Election Commission of serious misconduct, alleging that the electoral body is "misusing the SIR process under BJP pressure to manipulate voter lists."
Rai elaborated on these serious allegations, claiming that the Commission is systematically adding names favorable to the ruling party while removing those supporting opposition parties. According to the Congress leader, this politically motivated manipulation is being executed through an unreasonably accelerated timeline that places extreme pressure on ground-level election officials.
Mounting Pressure on Election Officials
The controversy highlights the immense pressure faced by booth-level officers during election preparation periods. The Special Intensive Revision exercise, designed to update and verify voter lists, has apparently created unsustainable working conditions for these essential electoral staff members.
"The Election Commission is trying to wrap up the process hastily, creating extreme workload on BLOs," Rai asserted during his interaction with media representatives. This statement underscores the growing concern about the welfare of election officials who form the backbone of India's democratic process.
The incident has raised serious questions about working conditions for election staff and the potential politicization of electoral preparation exercises. As the political temperature rises in Uttar Pradesh, this tragic event has become the latest flashpoint in ongoing tensions between opposition parties and the election administration.
