The Election Commission of India (ECI) has called on political parties to proactively appoint more Booth Level Agents (BLAs) during Bihar’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, cautioning them against raising concerns later if they fail to act now.
According to ECI sources, the large-scale voter list revision process in Bihar is progressing smoothly and in strict adherence to the Commission’s guidelines issued on June 24, 2025. The Commission also dismissed any misinformation surrounding the SIR exercise.
The operation involves nearly one lakh trained Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and an equal number of volunteers, working under the supervision of 243 Electoral Registration Officers, 38 District Election Officers, 9 Divisional Commissioners, and the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar.
While over 1.5 lakh BLAs have already been deployed by various national and state-recognised political parties, ECI officials highlighted that there is still ample opportunity to appoint additional agents.
“They should appoint more BLAs now rather than complaining later,” ECI sources emphasized, urging parties to actively participate in the process to strengthen electoral integrity.
A meeting originally scheduled between the ECI and a multi-party delegation for July 2 at 5 PM was deferred due to the lack of confirmation from the concerned political parties. The meeting had been requested by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on June 30, but no party had confirmed participation by July 1.
Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar reiterated that the primary goal of the SIR is to cleanse the voter rolls by excluding ineligible entries and ensuring that no eligible voter is left out, especially ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
“Under the Representation of the People Act, one is eligible to vote only in the Assembly constituency where they are an ordinary resident,” Kumar stated, explaining that property ownership elsewhere does not qualify one to vote outside their place of residence.
Over one lakh volunteers have been assigned to help senior citizens, persons with disabilities, the sick, and marginalised communities in submitting their Enumeration Forms, ensuring inclusive participation.
The Commission reaffirmed its dual objective — accuracy and inclusivity — in building a robust and trustworthy voter roll ahead of the polls.
