In the wake of reported deaths of several Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, families have filed complaints against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the state poll body chief, prompting a reaction from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that at least 40 deaths are linked to the SIR, blaming the ECI for putting "inhuman" pressure on BLOs with unrealistic deadlines and excessive workloads. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been a vocal critic, claiming that 28 BLOs have died since the SIR began and demanding an immediate halt to the process. Banerjee has described the situation as a "super emergency" and accused the ECI of prioritizing political considerations ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The ECI has firmly rebuffed these allegations, terming them "baseless" and urging the TMC to cease interference in the SIR process. The poll panel has accused TMC workers of threatening BLOs and defended the SIR, stating that it is being conducted across 12 states and Union Territories to ensure accurate electoral rolls. The ECI has also stated the exercise is only deleting the names of non-citizens, dead, shifted, and duplicate voters.

To ensure transparency and accuracy, the ECI has appointed retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as a Special Roll Observer for West Bengal. Twelve other IAS officers were appointed as Electoral Roll Observers for various districts. The ECI cited Bihar's SIR as a "model," promising two months post-draft for corrections.

The complaints filed by the families of the deceased BLOs add another layer of complexity to the situation. The families allege that the CEC and the state poll body chief are responsible for the deaths due to the immense pressure and unrealistic deadlines imposed on the BLOs. These complaints are likely to intensify the political heat and put further pressure on the ECI to address the concerns raised about the SIR process.

The SIR aims to revise the electoral rolls by deleting names of non-citizens, deceased individuals, shifted voters, and duplicate entries. However, the TMC has questioned the necessity and timing of the SIR, alleging that it is a politically motivated exercise to disenfranchise voters, particularly Bengalis. The party has also raised concerns about the veracity of Lok Sabha results if the electoral rolls used for it were considered not good enough and unreliable within a year.

The situation remains tense, with the TMC continuing to protest against the SIR and the ECI defending its actions. The appointment of special observers and the collection of detailed reports on the deaths of BLOs indicate that the ECI is taking the matter seriously. However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to address the concerns raised by the TMC and the families of the deceased BLOs and ensure a free and fair electoral process.