Wed Mar 26 22:10:00 UTC 2025: **Election Commission Trains Booth-Level Officers Amidst Opposition Allegations**
NEW DELHI, March 27, 2025 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a two-day training program for over 100 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in New Delhi on Wednesday. This initiative, taking place at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), aims to equip BLOs with the skills and knowledge necessary for accurate electoral roll updates.
The first batch of trainees comprises BLOs from Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam – states where assembly elections are upcoming. The training focuses on proper form completion under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, as well as the use of supporting IT applications. The ECI plans to train over one lakh BLOs in similar programs in the coming years. These trained BLOs will also serve as Assembly Level Master Trainers (ALMTs).
The training comes amidst allegations from opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress and Congress, of electoral roll manipulation. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stressed the importance of error-free electoral roll updates and urged state governments to appoint suitable EROs and BLOs, emphasizing the need for courtesy during house-to-house verifications. He also reiterated his call for all-party meetings to address local electoral concerns. The CEC warned that complaints against EROs or BLOs will be dealt with strictly. The program includes training for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and District Election Officers (DEOs) as well.
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