A booth-level officer assigned to special election duty in Kerala's Malappuram district has been removed from his position following allegations of public indecency during a voter enrollment camp. The incident has raised concerns about the conduct of election officials during the crucial voter registration process.
Incident Details and Immediate Fallout
The controversial episode occurred last week at a camp organized for collecting enumeration forms of voters at Anapadi West LP School in Tavanur. Vasudevan, the BLO of booth number 38, allegedly lifted his mundu - the traditional lower garment worn in Kerala - during an argument with a citizen who was filming the proceedings.
District collector V R Vinod took swift action on Tuesday after television channels broadcast the visual evidence of the incident. The officer was immediately removed from his special intensive revision duty, and an explanation has been demanded from him regarding his conduct.
What Triggered the Controversial Response?
According to sources familiar with the incident, the confrontation began when an individual questioned why the BLO was conducting a camp instead of visiting houses personally with enumeration forms. When the citizen threatened to complain to the district collector, Vasudevan reportedly reacted by lifting his mundu in what has been described as an obscene gesture.
The BLO later defended his actions, claiming he acted under provocation. Vasudevan stated that the continuous questioning and the threat of official complaint prompted his inappropriate response during what he described as a stressful situation.
Broader Concerns Among Election Officials
Meanwhile, in a related development, a group of BLOs from Kondotty taluk submitted a joint petition to the tahsildar expressing serious concerns about their excessive workload. This petition highlights the growing pressure on election officials during the voter registration process and suggests systemic issues that may be contributing to stress among field-level workers.
The incident has sparked discussions about both the conduct expected from election officials and the working conditions they face while performing their crucial democratic duties. Election authorities are now reviewing protocols to prevent similar incidents while also addressing the genuine concerns raised by BLOs about their challenging work environment.
