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MP Election Mystery: Why BLOs Lack Forms Amid Voter Revision Chaos

The Congress party has raised serious concerns about the Election Commission's preparation for the voter revision exercise in Madhya Pradesh. They claim that Booth Level Officers were sent without necessary electoral forms on the very first day of the Special Intensive Revision. Former Minister Sajjan Singh Verma heads an eight-member Congress panel monitoring the process across all districts. The voter list has been frozen since October 27, making this verification crucial for upcoming elections.

Key Points: Congress Alleges ECI Unprepared for Madhya Pradesh Voter Revision

  • Congress alleges BLOs missing from remote booths despite Tuesday start date
  • Former Minister Verma heads Congress panel monitoring SIR process
  • Over 65,000 BLOs trained for door-to-door voter verification
  • Voter list frozen since October 27 announcement of SIR exercise
3 min read

MP: Congress alleges lack of preparation for SIR, BLOs not carrying electoral forms

Congress claims BLOs missing electoral forms during Special Intensive Revision in MP, raising concerns about voter list preparation ahead of elections.

"BLOs have been sent without electoral forms, which shows that the ECI wasn't fully prepared for SIR - Sajjan Singh Verma"

Bhopal, Nov 4

The Congress in Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, levelled allegation on the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state has begun without preparation.

The Congress justified its allegations on ECI, claiming that most of the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) appointed for conducting the SIR exercise were yet to reach at booths located in remote areas in Madhya Pradesh.

"BLOs were supposed to start distributing electoral forms during door-to-door visit from today (Tuesday) but it could happen. It has noticed that in many places, BLOs have been sent without electoral forms, which shows that the ECI wasn't fully prepared for SIR," former Minister Sajjan Singh Verma said.

Verma, who has been appointed as head of the Congress's eight-member panel to look after the SIR process in the state, talking to IANS on Tuesday said that Congress is fully prepared for the SIR exercise in every district and booth in Madhya Pradesh.

"The way this SIR exercise began on Tuesday, it clearly shows that the ECI wasn't fully prepared for it. The Congress has appointed its teams in every district and booths to keep a close watch on BLOs," the Congress leader told IANS.

After providing training to more than 65,000 BLOs, who have been tasked for conducting a door-to-door visit for verification of voters, have started visting their assigned booths.

Madhya Pradesh has total 230 Assembly seats and 29 Lok Sabha constituencies from the 55 districts divided into six divisions such as Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Chambal, Narmadapuram, Rewa, Sagar, Shahdol and Ujjain.

The voter list in Madhya Pradesh was already frozen after the ECI announced the SIR in state on October 27, which means no new changes can made without verification from the BLO appointed by the ECI.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sanjeev Jha, has instructed district collectors, commissioner and other senior officials to monitor the SIR process closely and ensure that not a single eligible electorate is missed from verification.

CEO Jha has shared that the BLOs will not seek any documents from eligible voters, they are supposed to just distribute forms and record the information received during door-to-door visit.

However, the CEO also clarified that BLOs will only collect documents in case the voter's record does not match the earlier database.

In such cases, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will issue a notice to seek documents separately.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone from a remote village in MP, I can confirm these issues. Our BLO hasn't visited yet. Hope they resolve this soon so no eligible voter is left out.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate Congress raising this issue, let's not make it political. The focus should be on ensuring smooth electoral process. ECI should address these logistical gaps immediately.
A
Arjun K
Training 65,000 BLOs is no small task. Maybe there are initial hiccups that will be resolved in a day or two. Let's give ECI some time instead of jumping to conclusions.
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Kavya N
Remote areas always face these issues during electoral processes. ECI should have special arrangements for tribal and remote regions. Jai Hind! 🙏
M
Michael C
Good that Congress is monitoring the process. Healthy democracy needs opposition parties to keep the system accountable. Hope ECI takes corrective measures quickly.

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