The Election Commission should provide compensation of 30 lakh rupees to the family members of the B.L.O.

In Pune, on Lohgaon Road, Professor Dnyaneshwar Rote tragically lost his life three days ago after slipping from a two-wheeler. Mr. Rote was working as a BLO under the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign of the voter list.

In this matter, Dr. Tushar Nikalje, an election studies researcher from Pune, has written to the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi and the Maharashtra State Election Commissioner, demanding that compensation of 30 lakh rupees be provided to the family of Professor Dnyaneshwar Rote. This amount should be given excluding any benefits received under compassionate appointment, as well as any personal or family insurance schemes. He has also demanded a thorough administrative inquiry into the incident.

With reference to this case, Dr. Tushar Nikalje mentioned a letter he had sent to the Chief Election Commissioner on 29 December 2025. In that letter, he had highlighted the deaths of 48 employees and 117 other such incidents across various states in India over the past two years during SIR and election duties. He had also requested that steps be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. The letter further emphasized that the Election Commission should consider the work life balance of election staff.

“The Election Commission repeatedly instructs that not a single voter should be deprived of voting, but why are there no measures in place within the system for the employees and officers carrying out election and SIR duties?” Dr. Tushar Nikalje has raised this question to the Election Commission.