The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will approach the Supreme Court against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Kerala, alleging that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated the process at an “ill-timed” phase that has placed severe pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs). KPCC president Sunny Joseph announced the move on Monday, a day after BLO and school attendant Aneesh George was found dead at his home in Kannur.

Aneesh had been working on the SIR process in preparation for the Assembly elections scheduled in six months. His family and local leaders said he was struggling with the heavy workload of distributing enumeration forms and completing verification within a strict deadline.

Sunny Joseph alleged that a combination of work-related stress and political intimidation contributed to Aneesh’s death. He claimed Aneesh had confided to another Congress-aligned BLO that CPM workers had warned him against going door-to-door alongside him, threatening to file false complaints accusing him of distributing campaign material. 

Calling for a comprehensive probe, Joseph demanded the identification of those responsible and stronger protections for BLOs. He also extended support to the statewide protest organised by BLOs on Monday.

Joseph criticised the state government for allowing SIR activities to proceed alongside local body election campaigns, calling it a deliberate move. “We raised our objections in every official meeting, and now our concerns have been proven right,” he said. “Aneesh's tragic death and subsequent protests should serve as an eye-opener for the Chief Election Commissioner.”

He noted that despite requests made at an all-party meeting convened by the Chief Minister, the government has taken no action even after more than a week. He also pointed out that the High Court’s refusal to defer SIR — citing pending cases before the Supreme Court — highlights the state government’s mishandling of the issue.

In this context, Joseph said the KPCC has filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the timing and necessity of the SIR, arguing that it could undermine Kerala’s democratic framework.

Following Aneesh’s death, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rathan U Kelkar conveyed condolences and described Aneesh as a committed officer who carried out his duties with “exemplary dedication.” Kelkar said district officials were supporting BLOs throughout the revision and ensuring their workload did not become unmanageable.

Meanwhile, BLOs across Kerala began a one-day strike to protest excessive workload under the SIR and the responsibilities linked to the upcoming local body elections. The strike was jointly organised by state government employees and teacher unions, including the Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers, the Joint Committee of Teacher Service Organisations, and the Kerala NGO Association. Protest marches were planned at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office and district collectorates. The organisations said BLOs were under intense pressure as they struggled to handle multiple election-related duties simultaneously.