EC uses official apps for voter roll revision as Mamata alleges misuse in SIR exercise

Amid West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegation that the Election Commission (EC) is using mobile applications developed by the BJP’s IT cell for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, official records show that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across the country use applications developed and maintained by the Election Commission of India (ECI) itself.

The primary tool used by BLOs is the BLO App , earlier known as the GARUDA App . This is an official ECI application designed for field-level work such as house-to-house voter verification, updating electoral roll details, submitting forms on behalf of voters, and capturing photographs and GPS locations of polling stations. The app is available on official app stores and is meant exclusively for authorised election officials.

In addition, the Election Commission is rolling out ECINET (Election Commission Integrated Network) , a unified digital platform that aims to integrate several election-related services into a single application. ECINET is expected to eventually bring together multiple existing tools, including voter services and administrative functions, and may support SIR-related activities for both officials and citizens.

Other applications linked to the ECI’s digital ecosystem include the Voter Helpline App , which allows citizens to check their voter status and submit requests, and Saksham-ECI , which is designed to assist persons with disabilities in accessing electoral services. These apps are meant for public use and operate alongside the BLO App during electoral exercises.

According to available official documentation, these applications are developed under the supervision of the Election Commission of India, either by its internal IT teams or government-authorised technology agencies. There is no public evidence or official confirmation to show that any of the apps used by BLOs have been developed by a political party or its IT cell.

Mamata Banerjee’s claim that the EC is using BJP IT cell-developed apps remains an allegation, made in the backdrop of political and legal challenges to the SIR process in the state. The Election Commission has not issued any statement confirming the use of non-official or party-linked applications for electoral roll revision.