A Booth Level Officer in West Bengal, Shanti Muni Ekka, allegedly took her own life after struggling with the intense pressure of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. Her death has triggered political tension.
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West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Sunday urged everyone to keep patience and avoid emotional reactions after the tragic death of Shanti Muni Ekka, a Booth Level Officer (BLO) who reportedly died by suicide. Her family says she was under enormous pressure because of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a nationwide exercise currently underway.
The incident has triggered tension in the state with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of forcing officials to complete a massive, three-year-long process in just two months. She had earlier expressed deep shock and sorrow over the BLO’s death and blamed the “unplanned, relentless workload” imposed on ground staff.
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Speaking in Kolkata as he completed three years in office, Governor Bose said the situation must be studied with seriousness instead of rushed comments.
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“It is better to avoid knee-jerk reactions,” he told reporters. “What the Chief Minister said has to be examined in detail. We have an Election Commission that is strong and balanced. All issues can be checked properly and the right solutions can be found.”
He stressed that the core aim should remain clear: India must ensure free and fair elections.
When asked about concerns over infiltrators and the panic around the SIR process, Bose said he would gather firsthand information. “I will be visiting the border, make a reality check, and then I will comment,” he said.
Bose also appealed for calm between the state government and the ECI. He said the constitution has “enough checks and balances” to handle tense situations, but communication is key.
“To sort out such a situation, there should be a dialogue between the state government and the Election Commission. As the Governor, whatever is needed to bridge the two, I will certainly take the initiative,” he said.
The SIR, a large-scale verification of voter lists, is currently being carried out in 12 states and union territories. These include West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
The final updated electoral roll is scheduled for publication on February 7, 2026.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is preparing for its own internal review of the SIR exercise. On November 24, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will chair a meeting to discuss complaints, improvements in various districts, and the need to ensure that no voter’s name is mistakenly removed.
CM Mamata Banerjee is also meeting members of the Matua community in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, on November 25. It is a politically sensitive outreach as the SIR process continues.
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