Kerala's Electoral Roll Revision Faces Controversy Amid Tragic Incident

Kerala's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is underway, but faces controversy following the suicide of a Booth Level Officer, allegedly due to work pressure. The Chief Electoral Officer emphasizes the collective effort to complete the process, amid government and trade union appeals for reconsideration.

Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan Khelkar, announced that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is progressing well, with over 96% of enumeration forms already distributed thanks to the dedication of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) statewide.

The statement, released on a day when the state government petitioned the Supreme Court to postpone the SIR, comes amid heightened tensions following the suicide of a BLO reportedly due to work stress. Aneesh George, 44, was found dead, prompting family and community members to attribute his actions to job-related pressures linked to the SIR.

The CEO's office highlighted measures by district administrations to alleviate BLO workload, including setting up special camps and technical centers. Recognized political parties are also urged to contribute by nominating additional Booth Level Agents (BLAs). However, trade unions continue to protest, calling for decreased pressure on BLOs.

(With inputs from agencies.)