Thiruvananthapuram: Booth-level officers across Kerala began a statewide strike on Monday over the death of Aneesh George, a BLO from Ettukudukka in Payyannur. Employee unions claim his suicide was driven by excessive workload during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The one-day boycott, called by the Joint Action Committee of State Employees and Teachers and the Teachers’ Service Organisation Samara Samithi, includes protest marches to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office and district returning officers’ offices.

Union leaders said the Election Commission must be held accountable for what they described as unreasonable field-level duties imposed on BLOs, arguing that the ongoing revision drive has placed unprecedented strain on ground staff.

Amid mounting criticism, the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, issued a condolence message expressing 'profound grief over the untimely demise of Aneesh'. The statement said Aneesh was a sincere and dedicated official who performed his duties with exemplary commitment during the ongoing SIR.

The statement added that district election teams had been extending support to BLOs to ensure all eligible voters were enrolled, and reiterated that the election machinery works in close coordination “to ensure no official faces undue hardship”.

Aneesh’s funeral will be held at 3 pm on Monday at the Lourdes Matha Catholic Church, Ettukudukka.

His family insists that intense work pressure from the revision exercise caused his mental distress. However, Kannur District Collector Arun K Vijayan earlier said no link had been established between SIR duties and the suicide, adding that administrative reviews showed Aneesh had performed his responsibilities effectively.

Political tensions have risen, with the UDF and BJP alleging that Aneesh had faced threats from CPM workers. The CPM Kannur district leadership has rejected the allegations, calling them a politically motivated attempt to create a smokescreen.