A special training camp for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) commenced across West Bengal on 24 July and will continue till 28 July, triggering speculation about a possible upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
The training began at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata with the participation of seven BLOs from each of the 108 Assembly constituencies of the Presidency Division.
Although West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, described the ongoing programme as a “normal” exercise, political parties and election observers believe it signals preparatory work for a likely SIR ahead of next year’s Assembly election, similar to the recently concluded exercise in poll-bound Bihar.
Speaking during a virtual interaction with BLOs on Friday, Agarwal underlined the scale and significance of the initiative. “There are currently around 81,000 polling booths in the state. We plan to increase this number to 95,000 by adding 14,000 new booths. Consequently, 14,000 new BLOs will be appointed,” he said. He added that such an extensive training drive is being conducted for the first time.
When questioned about the possible rollout of SIR, Agarwal responded, “This is not under my jurisdiction. The Election Commission will take the final call on that.” However, sources within the state Election Commission indicated that Bengal may soon witness an SIR rollout, following clear hints from the National Election Commission.
Also read: Bihar voter list cut by over 52,00,000 after SIR
The training sessions cover the primary responsibilities of BLOs, including the revision of Forms 6, 7 and 8, and voter verification at the grassroots level. “BLOs have to visit every household to ensure a smooth and accurate voter list. With an increase in the number of booths and a reduction in the voter cap per booth from 1,575 to 1,200, the need for well-trained BLOs is more critical than ever,” Agarwal noted.
Adding to the ongoing speculation are two recent developments. First, the Election Commission has asked the West Bengal government to declare the CEO’s office as an independent department with a separate budget. Second, special allowances will be granted to BLOs involved in the SIR process—moves widely interpreted as signals of an imminent rollout.
Though Agarwal refrained from commenting directly on the launch of SIR, he acknowledged that “every subject, including SIR, is being covered in the BLO training” and reiterated the constitutional authority of the Election Commission to make such announcements.
Training sessions are also underway across other divisions of the state. Camps have already concluded in Malda and Burdwan divisions, while sessions in West Midnapore are ongoing. Jalpaiguri division is scheduled for 28 July. Following these divisional-level trainings, district-wise sessions will be held to ensure uniform preparedness of BLOs across Bengal.
With Assembly elections due in several states next year, including West Bengal, political circles believe these training exercises mark the early stages of a comprehensive electoral revision—on the lines of the Bihar model.
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