THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Election Commission has said that more BLAs (political party representatives) can be deployed to assist BLOs with SIR work. This relaxation applies only in Kerala.

If a political party cannot find a BLA in any Assembly constituency, a voter from the same constituency may be appointed instead. BLAs have also been permitted to submit SIR forms in batches. Before the draft voters’ list is published, each BLA can submit up to 50 forms a day to BLOs, and after the draft is published, they can submit up to 10 forms a day.

These instructions have been communicated to recognised political parties in writing. The relaxations were introduced following the death of BLO Aneesh George in Kannur, who committed suicide due to pressure related to SIR work.

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