Lucknow: More than 13.4 crore electors were included in the final electoral roll published in Uttar Pradesh after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in April this year, said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday.Addressing an interaction with booth level officers (BLOs) in Lucknow, Kumar said the revision of electoral rolls was carried out by 1.77 lakh BLOs in the state.Describing BLOs as the ‘foundation of Indian democracy’, he urged them to work with transparency, dedication and responsibility. He said BLOs played a key role in ensuring the accuracy and transparency of electoral rolls. The exercise was also subjected to a concurrent audit by more than 5.82 lakh booth level agents (BLAs) appointed by recognised political parties.More than 500 BLOs and 30 BLO supervisors from different parts of UP attended the programme.He said BLOs were the first interface between the ECI and citizens and added that they served as repositories of trust and transparency in the electoral process because they worked directly with voters at the grassroots.Kumar underlined the important role played by Uttar Pradesh’s BLOs in preparing the electoral rolls. He said their work continued to be central to ensuring that eligible citizens were included in the voters’ list and that electoral records remained accurate.The CEC said the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections in India were carried out strictly according to the constitution, laws and instructions issued by the EC.He said the SIR exercise in Uttar Pradesh demonstrated the importance of cooperation between election officials and recognised political parties. This system, he said, helped add another layer of scrutiny and strengthened public confidence in the electoral rolls.The interaction also included a question-and-answer session between the CEC and BLOs. Officials from different districts had the opportunity to raise their doubts and seek clarifications directly from Kumar.Kumar said the interaction was aimed at hearing suggestions from BLOs and addressing their queries.The meeting focused on the responsibilities of BLOs, the preparation of electoral rolls and the need to maintain transparency at every stage of the electoral process. Kumar said the dedication of BLOs was essential for ensuring free, fair and inclusive elections in Uttar Pradesh.
