On the 13th day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 p.m. following uproarious protests by Opposition MPs over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The INDIA bloc, a coalition of major opposition parties, stormed the well of both Houses, alleging that the voter roll revision could lead to the deletion of lakhs of legitimate voters, particularly those from marginalised and minority communities.

This development has now escalated into a full-blown political controversy, with implications not just for Bihar but for the upcoming 2026 general elections as well.

What triggered the protests in Parliament

The root of the latest disruption lies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being carried out by the Election Commission in Bihar, where officials are updating voter rolls based on house-to-house verification and demographic changes.

While such revisions are part of routine electoral upkeep, the Opposition alleges that the current exercise is politically motivated and disproportionately affects voters who traditionally do not support the ruling NDA alliance.

According to leaders from the Congress, RJD, CPI(ML), and other INDIA bloc members, the ongoing process is being misused to disenfranchise Dalits, minorities, and poor urban migrants under the guise of technical or residency errors.

As news of these alleged deletions surfaced, the issue snowballed into a flashpoint, leading to heated debates and eventually a walkout and protest in both Houses of Parliament on August 6, 2025.

Disruptions and adjournments in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Soon after proceedings began, Opposition MPs raised slogans and demanded an immediate discussion on the Bihar electoral roll issue. Despite multiple requests from the Speaker and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for order, the disruptions continued.

Unable to conduct business, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 p.m., further slowing down the already stymied monsoon session.

Parliament has witnessed frequent adjournments over a range of issues, including Manipur violence, unemployment, price rise, and now the Bihar SIR controversy. The continued logjam has drawn criticism from citizens and policy watchers, who say important legislative business is being ignored.

Opposition’s allegations and demands

Opposition leaders are demanding that the Election Commission halt the SIR process in Bihar until a transparent and publicly accountable mechanism is established.

Tejashwi Yadav, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader, accused the BJP-led NDA government of trying to engineer a silent voter purge ahead of upcoming elections in the state.

“This is an organised attempt to weaken democracy by deleting lakhs of names from the voter list, especially those of Dalits, Muslims and poor people who don’t have a permanent address due to migration,” he said during a press briefing.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed these sentiments, saying the Election Commission must explain the rationale and transparency of the process being followed in Bihar.

The Opposition wants a statement from the Law Minister and the Election Commission to be made in Parliament, followed by a structured debate on the electoral roll revision process.

Ruling NDA’s response

The BJP has rejected the allegations, stating that the voter roll revision is standard procedure as per Election Commission guidelines and is being conducted across states—not just in Bihar.

Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal defended the process, saying it is being conducted by trained EC officials and does not discriminate against any community.

“Opposition parties are unnecessarily politicising a routine voter list update. This is fear-mongering to distract from their own internal failures in Bihar,” he said during a press interaction.

What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

The Special Intensive Revision is a detailed voter list verification exercise carried out by the Election Commission of India in specific areas where rapid demographic or migratory changes have occurred.

The objective is to ensure that voter rolls are accurate, updated and free of duplicates or ineligible entries. The process includes household visits, Aadhaar linking (where permitted), and public hearings.

However, the lack of transparency in some localised SIR implementations has raised concerns in the past. In Bihar’s case, the large-scale deletion of names without adequate public notice or appeals mechanism has sparked widespread criticism.

Implications ahead of 2026 elections

With the 2026 Lok Sabha elections just months away, any development that affects the integrity of the electoral process takes on added significance.

Bihar, which sends 40 MPs to Parliament, is a politically crucial state, especially for the INDIA bloc, which hopes to make significant inroads there. The voter list revision controversy could now serve as a key mobilising issue for the Opposition in their campaign strategy.

Many civil society groups have also called for greater public oversight and independent monitoring of voter roll revisions, fearing that technocratic procedures could be weaponised politically.

Conclusion: Electoral transparency under spotlight

As Parliament continues to witness disruptions, the voter list revision in Bihar has turned into a national-level political flashpoint. While the government insists on administrative neutrality, the Opposition is pressing hard for accountability, clarity, and protection of voting rights.

If left unaddressed, the issue could erode public confidence in electoral institutions, a critical pillar of India’s democracy. With both Houses adjourned once again, the demand for an open debate on electoral fairness has now entered the national spotlight.

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