The Office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer has issued show cause notice to nearly 1,000 Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) for alleged non-compliance with election-related directives under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
They have allegedly failed to register their names as BLOs on a designated portal despite repeated requests from the Electoral Registration Officer concerned. The BLOs have also been directed to reply within 72 hours of receiving their notice.
The development assumes significance as preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll are due in the State. In the case of ‘mapping’, the voter list published in 2002 is being compared with the latest published voter list, sources in the Election Commission of India (ECI) said.
On Wednesday (October 22, 2025), the ECI held a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officers of all the States and Union Territories in Delhi. West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal was among those who participated in the meeting.
The BLOs who have refused to participate in the electoral process have cited security reasons.
