Modi govt, EC has blood on its hands, SIR a death trap for BLOs: Congress
New Delhi (PTI): After claiming deaths of over 25 booth-level officers (BLOs) due to SIR-related work stress, the Congress on Friday accused the Election Commission and the Modi government of having blood on their hands as they are dying under threats and coercion.
Congress senior spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi claimed that the officials are forced to delete OBC votes and work for 18 hours, alleging that the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is nothing but 'vote chori' by design.
"The so-called Special Intensive Revision has turned into a Special Institutionalised rejig unknown to law. BLOs are dying under inhuman targets, threats, and coercion. Suicides in Gir, Fatehpur, and Gonda expose the rot.
"When officials are forced to delete OBC voters and work 18 hours a day, it is no revision; it is vote chori by design. The Modi Government and ECI now have blood on their hands," Singhvi said in a post on X.
The so-called Special Intensive Revision has turned into a Special Institutionalised rejig unknown to law .
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) November 28, 2025
BLOs are dying under inhuman targets, threats & coercion. Suicides in Gir, Fatehpur and Gonda expose the rot.
When officials are forced to delete OBC voters & work 18…
His party colleague and spokesperson, Supriya Shrinate, shared a video of the remarks of a BLO who died by committing suicide.
"Gyanesh Ji, the wife of deceased BLO Vijay Verma from UP is saying .... 'The BLO job has taken my husband's life. How will we run the household, how will we educate our son?'. The son is saying 'SDM says if the feeding of 200 papers hasn't been done, there will be an FIR'.
"SIR's deadline has turned into a deathline," she alleged in a post on X.
ज्ञानेश जी,
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) November 28, 2025
यूपी के मृत BLO विजय वर्मा की पत्नी कह रही हैं
“BLO की नौकरी ने मेरे पति की जान ले ली. हम घर कैसे चलायेंगे, बेटे को कैसे पढ़ायेंगे?”
बेटा कहा रहा “SDM कहते हैं 200 पेपर की फीडिंग नहीं हुई तो FIR होगी"
SIR की deadline तो deathline बन गई है pic.twitter.com/PJvGWeDKwX
The Congress also posted on X that the SIR is a death trap for BLOs.
"The Modi government's latest tool for nationwide vote chori—the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)—has become a nightmare for BLOs and electoral officials, to the point that they are paying with their lives one after the other across the states.
"Each day, India is witnessing the deaths of officials deployed on SIR duty. Many have taken the ultimate decision to take their own lives, while others have suffered serious ailments, including heart attacks, that have resulted in their deaths," the party said.
The Congress claimed that in Gujarat's Gir, BLO Arvind Vadher killed himself after citing an inability to cope with the extreme SIR workload.
In Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur, Sudhir Kumar, an SIR supervisor, killed himself by hanging after he was threatened with suspension for not attending an official meeting, the party said.
"Shockingly, another BLO from UP has revealed the Modi government's sinister plans of vote chori. Gonda's BLO and Assistant Teacher Vipin Yadav consumed poison after being coerced by the administration to delete the names of OBC voters and threatened if he failed to comply.
"And these are just a few names from the list of over 25 victims of SIR. BLOs across the states have written to the EC, revealing that “unrealistic targets, 16–18 hour workdays, intimidation and constant threats of suspension” are taking a toll on the mental and physical health of officials," the Congress said.
The opposition party claimed that the repeated and consistent pleas from officials, unions, and their families are falling on deaf ears as the deadly SIR continues hurriedly and ruthlessly under a skewed deadline, "ostensibly to carry out an 'effective' nationwide vote chori."
"This is no revision; this is Special Intrusive Rigging. Because Modi knows that he can't taste electoral victories without a manipulated mandate.
"But enough is enough! How many more lives will be claimed to enable Modi's illegitimate rule? How many more innocents will pay the price for one man's greed for power? Modi and the Election Commission have blood on their hands," the party said on X.
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
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