Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday questioned the Election Commission over the deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, criticizing what he called disproportionate focus on alleged infiltration while official workers were reportedly dying under pressure.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sibal wrote: “SIR. Yet another suicide by a Bengal BLO. Total pan-India – 33. If one alleged ‘ghuspetia’ (infiltrator) is found, that’s not OK. If 33 BLOs die, is that OK?” His comments come amid mounting political tension in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has previously accused the BJP-led central government of using the SIR process to destabilize states ruled by the opposition. Banerjee has claimed that at least 40 people have died due to stress linked to the exercise and announced that the state would provide an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to those hospitalized.

On Sunday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee alleged that another BLO appointed by the Election Commission had died by suicide, citing "inhuman pressure" during the SIR process. Banerjee identified the deceased as Haradhan Mondal from the 249 Ranibandh Assembly Constituency, Part No. 206, and claimed his suicide note blamed the nature of the task assigned to him.

Earlier, a five-member TMC delegation met the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, urging strict adherence to statutory procedures and protection of citizens from wrongful exclusion. The party said such tactics damage public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process, emphasizing that no force, conspiracy, or central machinery should silence the people’s vote in Bengal. The Election Commission has completed the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in preparation for the next West Bengal Assembly elections, expected in March-April 2026.