Sachin Pilot questions EC impartiality, flags pressure on BLOs during Raipur visit

By A Staff Reporter

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday expressed serious concern over the functioning of the Election Commission, alleging partiality and pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during ongoing Special Summary Revision (SSR/SIR) work. Speaking to reporters during his two-day visit to Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Pilot said the party has observed irregularities in the voter verification process across multiple locations.

Pilot stated that his visit was primarily to review the SIR process being undertaken in the state. “It has been observed that the manner in which the Election Commission is working is not impartial,” he claimed. With the final revision deadline set for December 4, Pilot emphasised that the objective must be to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the rolls. He alleged that undue pressure on officials is affecting the fairness of the process.

The Congress leader also made a startling claim that instances of BLO suicides have been reported in seven states, which he linked to administrative pressure. “SIR has happened earlier as well, but this time, there is pressure from the administration, therefore there is an impact on the BLOs,” he remarked. Pilot appealed to authorities to prioritise transparency and reduce field-level stress on officials responsible for voter registration.