Congress Mobilizes in Delhi: Urgent Call for Booth Agents to Protest SIR

As the deadline for Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) approaches, Congress leaders reviewed the party’s readiness on Tuesday and urged local units to promptly appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs). The party also planned a protest rally against the SIR at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan in the first week of December.

Central leaders, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, and General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, met with state representatives at party headquarters. They emphasized the need to work quickly to ensure that BLAs are appointed in all required areas. Reports indicated that currently, only a third of the necessary BLAs have been appointed in Uttar Pradesh.

The second phase of SIR is intended to encompass approximately 510 million voters, with a completion deadline set for December 4. A source claimed that the party leadership underscored the necessity to enhance the party’s presence at the booth level. They also advised party leaders to report any anomalies observed with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to the district magistrate.

Following the meeting, Venugopal expressed that the upcoming Delhi rally would aim to “expose the Election Commission (EC) again,” criticizing the electoral body for allegedly attempting to undermine democracy. This protest marks the second time Congress has mobilized against the SIR after a strong opposition in Bihar; the unified opposition previously held protests during the Monsoon session of Parliament in August.

Venugopal relayed concerns from state leadership, noting that there is a sentiment among state units that the EC is intentionally trying to disenfranchise certain societal groups, similar to the issues faced in Bihar. He cited recent tragic incidents involving BLOs and questioned the necessity of the SIR, pointing out that all political parties, except the BJP, oppose it. He also referenced a Kerala Assembly resolution calling for the postponement of the SIR exercise.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-to-protest-in-delhi-against-sir-directs-state-units-to-appoint-booth-agents-10373324/
Category: India
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-11-19 03:18:00