Kottayam: Election Commission officials on Monday met BLO Antony, who had earlier sent an audio message expressing suicidal thoughts due to severe work-related stress during SIR duties. A team led by the Deputy Collector from the Election Department visited Antony at his home in Poonjar to assess his condition and offer support.
Officials informed Antony that he could be relieved from his booth-level officer duties if he wished. However, Antony declined and stated that he would continue working. He explained that the distressing WhatsApp audio message—shared in an officials’ group—was recorded during a moment of intense mental pressure. Following the incident, the department assigned two additional staff members from the Mundakkayam Village Office to assist him with the workload. Antony currently serves as the BLO for Booth 110 in Poonjar Mandam.
In the audio clip, Antony had described his mental breakdown, saying he “could not bear the pressure” and felt driven to thoughts of suicide. He is employed at a polytechnic in Idukki.
Previous Incidents Raise Concern Over Work Pressure
The situation comes amid growing concerns about the mental stress faced by booth-level officers across several states.
Death of BLO Aneesh in Kannur
Recently, Aneesh George, a BLO from Payyannur Ettukudka, was found hanging at his residence. Family members alleged that heavy SIR-related workload contributed to his death. The Election Commission has asked the District Collector for a detailed report.
BLO Collapses After SIR Camp
Another BLO, Valiyaveetil Ramachandran (53) from Ancharakandi in Kannur, collapsed while returning home after attending an SIR camp. His family also blamed work pressure. Ramachandran, a clerk at the Kannur DDE office, was admitted to the hospital. Allegations continue to emerge that many BLOs are facing extreme workload and stress.
SIR-Related Case Filed in Noida
In Noida, police have registered a case against 60 BLOs and 7 supervisors for failing to complete tasks related to the Special Summary Revision (SAR) on time. The action, taken on the instructions of the District Collector, invokes Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act. This comes at a time when reports of BLOs collapsing or dying due to excessive work burden are surfacing from Kerala, Gujarat, and West Bengal.
