‘Challenges mainly in urban areas, no need to panic…draft list won’t be final’: UP CEO as SIR deadline nears

Q. What kind of challenges are electoral staff facing on the ground?

A: Challenges lie mainly in urban areas. First, no dedicated worker resides in the assigned booth area. Before launching SIR, the Election Commission had issued strict instructions that while appointing a BLO, first preference should be given to a government employee. If a government employee is not available, you will deploy on a contractual basis. Therefore, BLOs were reassigned at many places. When a new BLO was deployed, he didn’t know the area, which became a challenge.

Another challenge is the rationalisation of booths, in which EC decides the maximum limit of voters for a polling booth. At some places, members of the same family were listed in two separate booths. When that happens, two BLOs have to cover the area and both have to visit the same household.

Incomplete addresses of the voters in the electoral roll is also a challenge. That is happening at many places. For example, there are some areas in Noida where houses are not numbered but there are so many voters that four booths have to be set up. In such a situation, four BLOs will have to visit the area. The urban areas are not as easy as the rural areas where family registers have a specific number for every family and household, areas in villages are smaller, boundaries are clear and people are connected with local kotedar (ration dealer), teachers and schools.

District Election officers (DEOs) have sought the support of all government departments like nagar nigams, Noida authority, and other government offices. Efforts have been made to help the BLOs working under tough situations in terms of manpower and data entry. With their help, over 1.10 crore forms were digitised in a single day. We have also encouraged online submission of enumeration forms and there is a portal for that.

The most important thing is that people should not panic. If someone’s name does not appear in the draft list published on December 9, he or she can fill form 6 (application for inclusion of name in electoral roll). The draft list is not the final list. People should not worry because even when the final electoral roll is published (on February 7, 2026), the assembly elections will still be far. Continuous updation will be going on.

Q. BLO deaths have been reported from different districts and their families and political parties have claimed that either it was due to stress due to SIR work or have alleged suicide. What is being done in such matters?

A: We have sought reports about every such incident. There are two reported cases of suicides. In the case of the Lucknow BLO death due to brain hemorrhage, that person was already replaced a week before his death.

If a BLO is deployed in a challenging area or is facing any technical problem in feeding the voter details, instructions have been issued to provide every type of support. It has also been directed that in genuine cases of social events or if there’s a medical situation in the family, leaves will be provided. Also, we have instructed to replace a BLO if he is found to be battling mental health issues. Some BLOs have already completed their work. This is not an impossible task. But this is undeniably an additional task.

Q. How actively are political parties engaged in SIR exercise?

A: I have held two meetings with political parties and sought their support. All the recognised political parties attended the meeting and they appointed around 4.41 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) who are working on the ground. BLAs know their area and can act as a bridge between the voter and the BLO.

Q. Some Opposition parties are expressing apprehensions about SIR. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav recently alleged that SIR was aimed to delete names of around 5,00,00 voters from assembly segments where his party and INDIA bloc took lead in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

A: What can I say on political apprehensions and allegations? We are addressing every complaint about BLOs and voter lists received from the political parties. It is a good thing that they (Samajwadi Party) have deployed BLAs in large numbers.

Q. Seeing geographical extent and population of UP, political parties have suggested extending SIR deadline. Is EC considering this suggestion?

A: If the work is not completed on time, we will seek more time. But nothing can be said as of now. We are trying to wind up on time so that we don’t have to seek extra time.