The INDIA bloc has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding his intervention and alleging misuse of state machinery to intimidate political opponents.
By Navin Upadhyay
New Delhi, August 1, 2025: In an intensifying political storm, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of “vote theft” through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar—just months ahead of the high-stakes state assembly elections.
What began as fiery parliamentary protest has now spilled onto the streets. Gandhi is set to lead a week-long padyatra across Bihar in protest, flanked by INDIA bloc allies, in a campaign that fuses legislative strategy with grassroots agitation.
“We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft,” Gandhi declared.
“This is treason. From top to bottom—retired or serving—we will not spare you.”
The comments, made after the EC released its draft electoral rolls for Bihar last Friday, have set off a political firestorm, as opposition leaders claim the SIR is being used as a tool to disenfranchise voters under the pretext of electoral cleansing.
Earlier that day, Gandhi joined floor leaders from the INDIA alliance in writing to Speaker Om Birla. The letter urged an immediate and special discussion in Parliament on the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar, warning of its far-reaching consequences on the right to vote.
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Signed by top leaders including Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi, DMK’s T.R. Baalu, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, RJD’s Abhay Kumar, and others, the letter decried the SIR as “unprecedented” and politically motivated.
“Given the widespread apprehension about the transparency, timing, and intent of this process, the matter requires urgent attention of the House,” the MPs said.
They noted that while the government had promised openness to debate during the July 20 all-party meeting, no date had been scheduled—fueling further protest from the opposition benches.
BREAKING : Rahul Gandhi goes all gun blazing against Election Commission
“I have proof that ECI is working for BJP, once this gets revealed, ECI will have to hide their face” 🤯
Must expose them 🔥pic.twitter.com/SPPWiD1Dtw
— Amock_ (@Amockx2022) August 1, 2025
“Murder of Democracy”: EC Under Opposition Fire
Since the beginning of the Monsoon Session, the EC’s Bihar revision exercise has dominated opposition strategy. Leaders have termed the SIR a “murder of democracy,” accusing it of deleting genuine voters—especially youth, Dalits, minorities, and migrant workers—while suspiciously inflating names in other constituencies.
“This isn’t about Bihar alone,” one senior TMC MP said.
“The EC has hinted that similar SIR operations will take place across India. If this goes unchecked, what’s left of our elections?”
In Parliament, INDIA bloc members have protested daily, staging dharna at Makar Dwar—the main entrance of the new Parliament building—and stalling legislative proceedings until the government agrees to a full debate.
The Padyatra Plan: Street Politics Begins
Taking the fight outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi is preparing to hit the road in Bihar. According to Congress sources, a week-long padyatra—likely beginning August 9—is being organized. Gandhi will be joined by key INDIA allies, including RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, and the march is expected to culminate in a massive rally in Patna.
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The march, party insiders say, is designed to both energize the cadre and draw national attention to what they believe is a deliberate attempt to sabotage democracy at the grassroots.
The padyatra echoes Gandhi’s 2023 and 2024 mass mobilizations, like the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and signals his intent to take the election integrity fight directly to voters.
EC Responds: “We’re Just Cleaning the Rolls”
The Election Commission has defended the SIR as a constitutionally mandated routine to update voter rolls, remove duplicates, and delete names of deceased or migrated voters.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar, in a statement last week, said the SIR is being conducted transparently, with all political parties being informed in advance. The EC also cited its affidavit to the Supreme Court, where it stated that verifying citizenship or eligibility is within its scope and duty.
But opposition leaders aren’t buying it.
“If everything is so transparent, why are names vanishing disproportionately from constituencies with heavy anti-BJP sentiment?” asked a senior Congress MP.
“This is not an update—it’s an operation.”
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INDIA Bloc Strategy: From EC Gherao to Floor Obstruction
In a key INDIA bloc meeting held Thursday, leaders unanimously agreed that SIR would remain the central political plank both inside and outside Parliament until addressed.
A senior INDIA leader confirmed that all parties, including AAP, are onboard. Among the agreed-upon actions:
- Daily sit-ins outside Parliament (already underway).
- A mass gherao of the Election Commission’s building next Wednesday or Thursday.
- Unified slogans in regional languages, to amplify the message among grassroots voters.
- Strategic use of the Bihar padyatra to keep the issue in national focus.
“Even if the government refuses to schedule a debate, we will ensure SIR dominates the entire Monsoon Session,” a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.
Government’s Silence Raises Questions
The Centre has thus far maintained that Election Commission is a constitutional body and the Union government cannot respond on its behalf. This technicality has allowed ministers to avoid direct discussion, even as outrage builds.
But for the opposition, the government’s silence is itself an answer.
“It’s clear they are complicit, or at least supportive,” said Supriya Sule.
“This is how democratic backsliding begins—in silence.”
With the Supreme Court also scheduled to hear petitions related to SIR mid-August, parliamentary action—or inaction—may influence broader legal interpretation.
Rahul Gandhi’s sharp turn from Parliament to padyatra reflects the seriousness with which the opposition views the Bihar SIR episode. It isn’t just about one state—it’s about the precedent it could set nationwide.
As Gandhi put it, this isn’t merely a protest; it’s an offensive—a full-fledged battle over the legitimacy of the 2025 and 2026 elections.
In Bihar, the streets are set to fill. In Parliament, the noise will grow louder. And at the center of it all stands a question fundamental to democracy itself: Who controls the vote?
