The winter session of Parliament commenced on Monday amid heightened political tensions, with the Opposition INDIA bloc insisting on an immediate debate concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently being conducted by the Election Commission of India across multiple states.
Opposition's Key Demands and Warnings
The session, which is scheduled to run until December 19 with 15 sittings over 19 days, began on a confrontational note. Following a series of meetings on Sunday—including an all-party meet chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh—the Opposition made it clear that allowing a discussion on the SIR is their primary condition for the smooth functioning of Parliament.
Samajwadi Party lawmaker Ramgopal Yadav issued a stern warning, stating that the House would not be allowed to function without a debate on the electoral roll revision. The Opposition's demands extend beyond the SIR, encompassing discussions on national security following the Delhi car explosion, labour codes, the role of Governors, and pending financial dues to states.
RJD leader Manoj Jha expressed concern over the focus of political discourse, telling ANI, "Most political discussions are fictional... while the basic issues of the public are being ignored." He emphasized the need to discuss issues of income equality and whether GDP growth is reflected in daily life, warning that without substantive debates, "Parliament will remain a museum-like structure."
Government's Stance and Legislative Agenda
Despite the Opposition's firm stance, the government has expressed its readiness to engage in discussions within the framework of parliamentary rules. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that the government is fully prepared to address the opposition's concerns.
"Parliament belongs to everyone; it belongs to the country," Rijiju told reporters, emphasizing that there are established methods and rules for discussing every issue. The government plans to introduce 10 bills during the session and has also decided to hold a discussion commemorating 150 years of India's national song, Vande Mataram.
The session will also see Private Members' Bills being taken for consideration on December 5 and 19, with Private Members' resolutions scheduled for December 12.
Election Commission Extends SIR Deadline
Amid the political standoff, the Election Commission of India announced a significant development on Sunday, extending the schedule for the ongoing SIR by one week. The commission stated this move was to ensure "full transparency" in the process.
The revised deadlines now include distribution of enumeration forms continuing until December 11, draft electoral rolls being published on December 16, and the final voters' list being released on February 14, 2026. The SIR exercise, which covers 12 states and Union Territories including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, affects nearly half of India's billion-strong electorate.
As the winter session progresses, all eyes remain on whether the government and Opposition can find common ground to ensure productive parliamentary proceedings, or if the stalemate over the electoral roll revision will lead to the disruptions that some leaders have warned about.
