R ARIVANANTHAM
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI, DEC 2
Parliament’s Winter Session remained gridlocked for the second consecutive day, with the Lok Sabha adjourned at 2.05 p.m. on Tuesday amid unrelenting Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 States and Union Territories. The House reconvened twice but was forced to shut again as Opposition MPs stormed the well, raising slogans such as “SIR pe charcha karo” and “Vote chor, gaddi chhod”, demanding an immediate debate.
நாடாளுமன்றத்தில் திமுக உள்ளிட்ட இந்தியா கூட்டணி கட்சிகள் வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் சிறப்பு தீவிர திருத்தப் பணி (SIR)க்கு எதிராக போராட்டம் நடைபெற்றுவருகிறது
#ParliamentWinterSession pic.twitter.com/4wd3LIugEg
— DMK (@arivalayam) December 2, 2025
- Winter Session turns stormy as slogans, walkouts mark day two of proceedings
- SIR of electoral rolls takes centre stage; opposition demands immediate debate, cites ‘Democratic Threat’
- Government rejects accusations, says all issues open for discussion; Rijiju warns against ‘frustration politics’
- SIR allegations, Bihar fallout & upcoming polls add fuel to political confrontation
Rejecting repeated appeals from the Chair, Opposition members insisted that no government business could proceed until the SIR exercise—now at the heart of a sweeping political flashpoint—was discussed on the floor of the House.
सरकार SIR पर चर्चा के लिए तैयार है, लेकिन “अभी बताओ, कब से होगा”—इस तरह से चर्चा नहीं होती।
राज्यसभा में SIR पर चर्चा की विपक्ष की मांग पर
संसदीय कार्य मंत्री @KirenRijiju का बयान।#RajyaSabha #Parliament #KirenRijiju #SIR #SessionUpdate @VPIndia pic.twitter.com/7xH9qoTb02
— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) December 2, 2025
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, speaking during the chaos, criticised the protests, saying, “We have repeatedly urged for peaceful discussions during the Winter Session. There are many important issues before the nation. It is not right for a few parties to disrupt the House like this.”
He added that electoral victories and defeats were part of democracy. “Atal Ji lost elections. I have lost too. But taking out frustration here in Parliament is not right. By doing such things, you are losing the trust of the public.”
The Opposition, however, remained defiant, alleging large-scale irregularities in the SIR process. Parties claim the revision—undertaken months before the Bihar Assembly polls—helped the ruling BJP by enabling voter deletions and exclusions. The political temperature has risen further after the Bihar verdict, with the Opposition arguing that similar distortions could undermine their prospects in upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala.
A senior political observer noted, “The Opposition sees SIR as an existential threat. They believe the process is minimising their support base. With instances of people declared dead, or missing from lists despite valid documents, the distrust has intensified.”
ஆளுங்கட்சி செய்வதற்கெல்லாம் தலையாட்டுவது எதிர்கட்சிகளின் வேலையல்ல; மக்களை பாதிக்கக்கூடிய பிரச்சனைகளை பேசத்தான் விரும்புகிறோம். ஆனால், ஒன்றிய பா.ஜ.க அரசு எதிர்கட்சிகள் பேச அனுமதி மறுப்பதை ஒரு வேலையாகவே வைத்துள்ளது.
நாடளுமன்ற மாநிலங்களவை கழகக் குழுத் தலைவர் திரு. @tiruchisiva… pic.twitter.com/Woliri92aD
— DMK (@arivalayam) December 2, 2025
The opening day of the Winter Session on Monday had already set a combative tone, with adjournments, walkouts and allegations of “vote chori” dominating debate. The controversies have widened to include reports of suicides by booth-level officers (BLOs) allegedly under pressure during the revision exercise, prompting calls for urgent parliamentary scrutiny.
AICC spokesperson Deepak Jha accused the government of avoiding accountability: “As long as the drama continues on the government’s side, disruption will continue. If they were serious, they would allow a debate on issues concerning common people.”
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, entering Parliament earlier in the day, said, “What is Parliament for if not to discuss urgent issues like SIR, elections and pollution? Democratic discussions cannot be stifled.”
Opposition parties are also demanding time-bound debates on air pollution, national security concerns and the rising stress on grassroots election staff. NCP MP Fauzia Khan echoed the sentiment, insisting, “We have a right to breathe clean air. The government must respond. Issues like SIR and BLO suicides must be discussed transparently.”
With the government unwilling to prioritise a standalone debate on SIR, political confrontation is expected to intensify. A senior Congress leader said the Opposition will continue to “push the government to listen to the people and not strangulate democracy.”
The second phase of the SIR covers 12 states and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Puducherry and Lakshadweep — all of which are likely to play a significant role in shaping the next electoral cycle.
