New Delhi, July 28, 2025 — In a rare show of unity and persistence, leaders from the INDIA bloc including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Akhilesh Yadav led a powerful protest inside the Parliament House complex on Monday, raising their voice against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The leaders demanded an immediate rollback of the SIR, claiming it was a deliberate move to “disenfranchise voters” in the State ahead of the crucial Bihar Assembly elections later this year.

Top Opposition leaders lead the charge

The protest was marked by the presence of political heavyweights:

• Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi

• Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi

• Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

• Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

• TMC leaders Derek O’Brien and Sagarika Ghose

• DMK MPs Kanimozhi and A. Raja

These leaders were joined by other MPs from Congress, DMK, TMC, RJD, Samajwadi Party, and Left parties, creating a diverse and united front against what they termed an “electoral attack on democracy.”

Fifth day of protest: ‘Stop SIR’ campaign intensifies

Protesters stood near the Makar Dwar (main gate) of Parliament, holding placards that read 'Stop SIR'. A huge banner reading 'SIR - Attack on Democracy' was prominently displayed as the group raised slogans demanding the cancellation of the SIR process.

This was the fifth consecutive day of coordinated protests inside the Parliament complex over the SIR issue. With Parliament’s Monsoon Session underway, the Opposition has demanded that the matter be brought to the floor for discussion.

"The Election Commission’s unilateral revision exercise in Bihar must be stopped. This is voter suppression under the garb of administrative correction," said Congress MP Manish Tewari, who participated in the protest.

Background: What is the SIR and why is it controversial?

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise launched by the Election Commission (EC) to update electoral rolls in select districts of Bihar. The EC has claimed it is part of its regular audit process to correct entries, eliminate duplicates, and ensure a cleaner electoral roll.

However, Opposition parties have strongly objected, alleging that the process:

• Lacks transparency

• Targets certain communities and constituencies

• Is politically motivated ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections

They also claim that millions of voters could be struck off the list without sufficient notice or procedural fairness.

Protests escalate with symbolic acts

On Friday, July 25, 2025, several INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, staged an unconventional protest by tearing SIR posters and placing them in a ‘disposal bin’ as a sign of rejection.

Later that day, they also marched inside the Parliament complex, reiterating their call for the Election Commission to halt the exercise and for Parliament to hold a structured discussion on the issue.

“We won’t allow disenfranchisement to be normalised. This is not revision — this is deletion,” said DMK MP Kanimozhi.

Election Commission remains firm

Despite the uproar, the Election Commission of India has not indicated any rollback, asserting that the SIR is part of standard operational procedures and was undertaken following due consultation with state officials.

An official statement from the EC said:

“The SIR process follows legal mandate and administrative necessity. All citizens have the opportunity to verify or raise objections.”

The EC also advised political parties to refrain from misinformation, warning that such campaigns could affect public trust in the electoral process.

Parliament proceedings disrupted again

The protests spilled into the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with repeated disruptions and adjournments. Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar urged MPs to maintain decorum and allow the Houses to function.

"Members have the right to protest, but not at the cost of legislative work," Birla said during the morning session.

Meanwhile, government ministers have accused the Opposition of using the issue for political mileage, claiming that SIR-like exercises have occurred under past governments as well.

Public reaction and expert voices

Legal and electoral experts have expressed concern over the lack of detailed information shared by the EC on the SIR process in Bihar.
Former CEC S.Y. Quraishi commented in a TV interview:

“Transparency is the key to trust in elections. If voters are being removed or reverified, the process must be clear, participatory, and legally sound.”

Activists have warned that without widespread awareness, the poorest and most marginalised voters are the ones most likely to be affected by roll purges.

Conclusion

With protests intensifying and no resolution in sight, the issue of SIR in Bihar has emerged as a major flashpoint in the 2025 Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Opposition’s united front and consistent demonstrations suggest they are unlikely to relent without securing either a discussion in Parliament or a rollback from the EC.

The coming days may well decide whether this turns into a larger national debate on electoral reforms, or becomes another unresolved stalemate in India’s political theatre.

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