Opposition Parties demanded an immediate debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
Opposition parties in India have demanded an immediate and full debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament starting December 1, 2025. The demand came prominently at all-party meetings involving leaders from many opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party, CPI(M), TMC, DMK, CPI, and BJD, who stressed the importance of discussing SIR as a priority issue. Opposition leaders raised concerns about alleged irregularities, overwork, and deaths among booth level officers (BLOs), and questioned the feasibility of the Election Commission’s timeline extension for SIR.
At a Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee meeting, opposition leaders sought a short discussion on SIR, warning that failure to hold the debate would be seen as the government’s responsibility for disrupting Parliament. The central government, represented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, has not rejected the demand but requested not to put a rigid timeline on the debate, seeking cooperation to allow Parliament to function smoothly with multiple bills listed for discussion.
The opposition has linked the SIR issue with electoral reforms and alleged vote manipulation, pressing for urgently scheduling the discussion. Despite disruptions in the initial session days due to these demands, there remains an ongoing dialogue between opposition parties and the government on the matter’s timing and conduct in Parliament.
The opposition parties are actively demanding an immediate and prioritized debate on SIR in the Winter Session of Parliament due to the electoral significance and logistical concerns tied to the revision of voter rolls, with the government open to discussing it but requesting some flexibility on the scheduling.
