New Delhi, December 9, 2025– As the Winter Session of Parliament intensifies, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is poised to spearhead a vehement opposition offensive in the Lok Sabha today, kicking off a crucial two-day debate on electoral reforms, with a sharp focus on the Election Commission's controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.
The session, marking Day 7 of the Winter Session, comes amid escalating accusations from the opposition INDIA bloc that the SIR exercise—aimed at purifying electoral rolls ahead of future polls—has led to widespread deletions of legitimate voters, particularly from marginalized communities, amounting to systematic "vote chori" (vote theft). Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, staged protests outside Parliament gates earlier this week, brandishing placards emblazoned with "Stop SIR, Stop Vote Chori" to demand accountability and transparency in the process.
Gandhi, who has been a vocal critic of the initiative since its rollout, is expected to open the debate with a scathing indictment of the government's role in what he has termed a "conspiracy to sacrifice democracy for those in power." In a November 23 statement, the Congress MP lambasted the SIR drive, alleging discrepancies in voter lists and undue pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), which he claimed disproportionately affected the poor, Dalits, and minorities. Sources within the Congress indicate that Gandhi's address will draw on recent field reports of erroneous deletions, urging an immediate halt to the revision and the introduction of safeguards like mandatory verification before striking off names.
Joining Gandhi on the opposition benches will be a formidable lineup of Congress MPs, including AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Manish Tewari, Varsha Gaikwad, Mohammed Jawed, Ujjwal Raman Singh, Isa Khan, Ravi Mallu, Imran Masood, Gowaal Padavi, and Jothimani. The debate is anticipated to be a high-stakes showdown, with the treasury benches, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah—who will initiate proceedings—countering with defenses of the SIR as a necessary step to eliminate bogus voters and enhance electoral integrity. BJP stalwarts Nishikant Dubey, P.P. Chaudhary, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, and Sanjay Jaiswal are slated to respond, potentially accusing the opposition of politicizing administrative reforms.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is scheduled to wind up the discussion on Wednesday, offering the government's formal reply and possibly outlining any proposed amendments to electoral laws. The opposition's push for this debate follows weeks of disruptions in the House, including adjournments and slogan-shouting, underscoring deep fissures over the integrity of India's democratic processes.
Meanwhile, across the hallway in the Rajya Sabha, a parallel discussion on the 150th anniversary of "Vande Mataram" gets underway, with Amit Shah leading tributes to the iconic anthem, and Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi alongside Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expected to participate. The concurrent sessions highlight the packed agenda of the Winter Session, which also includes deliberations on key bills amid ongoing tensions between the NDA government and the opposition.
As the nation watches, today's proceedings could set the tone for broader electoral discourse, with implications for upcoming state polls and the 2029 general elections. Political analysts predict heated exchanges, but hope the debate fosters constructive reforms to bolster public trust in the ballot box.
Reporting by TCO News Desk; Additional inputs from PTI and ANI
For More News Updates Follow Us On Www.tconews.in
