The CPI urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to relieve the village and ward secretariat staff from the duties of booth level officers (BLOs) and take immediate steps to reduce the mounting work pressure on them arising from numerous polls and election-related tasks.
In a letter to the chief minister on Monday, CPI state secretary Gujjula Eswaraiah pointed out that as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, only about 14 categories of employees are eligible to be appointed as BLOs. However, in Andhra Pradesh, these duties are assigned only to village and ward secretariat staff, leading to excessive workload and serious health problems.
He noted that the secretariat staff in the state are also burdened with Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, leading to prolonged stress. Mr. Eswaraiah said that four secretariat employees, including a 41-year-old ward secretariat employee from Indira Nagar in Emmiganur town of Kurnool district, had died in the last two months.
The CPI chief expressed concern over disciplinary measures such as memos, show-cause notices and suspension of secretariat staff performing BLO duties. He claimed that in Kurnool district alone, more than 600 secretariat employees were given show-cause notices. Mr. Eswaraiah also reminded Mr. Naidu that when he was in opposition, he had demanded that the secretariat staff be relieved of BLO duties.
Published – 15 Dec 2025 23:16 IST
