Rahul Gandhi targets ECI, BJP over UP BLO’s ‘suicide’ after family alleges pressure to remove OBC voters

Congress MP from Raibareli and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday hit out at the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the BJP over the tragic death of a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda, following his family’s allegation that he was being forced to remove OBC voters from electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Responding to a Congress post on X that carried the video statement of deceased BLO Vipin Yadav’s brother-in-law, Rahul Gandhi said, “‘Cut the names of OBC voters, or else you’ll lose your job.’ Pressure, threats… and the result? In the end, suicide.”

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Rahul accused the BJP of preparing the voter list of its liking under the guise of the SIR exercise.

“Under the guise of SIR, BJP is preparing its voter list to its liking by removing backward, Dalit, deprived, and poor voters from the list,” the Congress leader said, adding that the “ECI is responsible for the murder of democracy.”

The Election Commission has ordered Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 10 States and 3 UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Assam.

The SIR exercise is being carried out at a rapid pace. The entire exercise, according to the ECI’s schedule, is expected to be completed in a little over three months, with only one month’s time allotted for the enumeration phase.

The BLOs are required to collect the enumeration forms within this 30-day window. According to reports, the tight deadline has put the BLOs under a significant strain.

There have also been allegations that the extreme pressure to meet the target has driven some BLOs to die by suicide.

‘OBC वोटरों के नाम काटो वरना नौकरी खत्म’

ऐसी बात यूपी के गोंडा में BLO विपिन यादव से कही गई थी, जिसके बाद विपिन यादव ने आत्महत्या कर ली।

विपिन यादव के परिवार का कहना है कि SDM और लेखपाल SIR में OBC वोटरों के नाम काटने का दबाव बना रहे थे।

विपिन यादव ने ऐसा करने से मना किया तो… pic.x.com/b2xZqOjnta

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 26, 2025

Gonda BLO Vipin Yadav was also reportedly working under similar pressure. According to his family, he was threatened by the SDM and two other officials associated with the SIR exercise.

Yadav, his brother-in-law alleged, was threatened with suspension if he refused to follow the instructions. He was allegedly told to remove OBC voters from the electoral rolls. This pressure, according to the family, drove him to die by suicide.

The Election Commission has not yet issued a formal response to the accusations levelled by the family or the Congress leader.