CEC Gyanesh Kumar calls BLOs bedrock of democracy

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday described booth-level officers (BLOs) as the "bedrock of democracy" during a conference in Patna. He said BLOs go to every voter's home and ensure eligible electors get their voter ID cards made in a transparent manner. Kumar made the remarks after meeting BLOs in Bihar's Nalanda district, and said their capabilities should be present in all BLOs across the country.

Kumar announced the setting up of Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) under ELC 2.0 across the nation, starting from Bihar. The conference was attended by vice chancellors, principals, and students. Kumar said Bihar gave transparent and peaceful voting to the country and will now provide ELCs as a boon. He also noted that BLOs' work during the Special Intensive Revision programme in 2025 helped make the electoral roll more accurate and error-free.

The Congress party's Jairam Ramesh described Gyanesh Kumar as a 'weapon of mass destruction' for electoral rolls, offering a contrasting view to the CEC's praise for BLOs. Kumar heard BLOs' experiences and suggestions, saying their views are important for making the electoral process more effective and participatory.