Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc disrupted Parliament and led protests outside over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, calling it a targeted voter suppression campaign ahead of the 2025 state polls.
BY PC Bureau
Delhi, July 22, 2025 — The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has sparked massive political outrage, triggering coordinated protests inside and outside Parliament on Monday during the Monsoon Session.
Opposition leaders, primarily from the INDIA bloc — including Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and RJD MP Misa Bharti — accused the ECI of launching a “clandestine disenfranchisement drive” ahead of the crucial 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The SIR, they claimed, disproportionately targets the poor, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, and migrant communities by weaponising documentation requirements.
Outside the Parliament complex, opposition MPs assembled at Makar Dwar, holding placards that read “SIR: Stealing Indian Rights” and “SIR: Subverting Indian Republic.” Chants echoed accusing the ECI of running a “backdoor NRC” on behalf of the ruling BJP-led NDA government.
Inside Lok Sabha, protests began as soon as proceedings opened. Opposition MPs stormed the well of the House, waving placards and demanding an immediate discussion on the SIR issue. Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House within minutes, resuming only at 4 PM amid continued chaos. The Rajya Sabha too saw disruptions, leading to adjournments until noon.
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Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi moved an adjournment motion, questioning why Aadhaar and PAN cards — widely used IDs — were excluded from the ECI’s 11-document eligibility list. He warned that the SIR could result in mass deletion of names from the rolls, especially among rural and vulnerable populations.
In the upper house, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh filed a Rule 267 Suspension of Business notice, urging a debate on the implications of the SIR in Bihar — a state marked by high migration and limited documentation among marginalised communities.
Opposition Alleges Political Motive, Demands PM’s Response
Leaders of the opposition coalition alleged that the SIR was not an administrative measure but a political weapon to delete voters unlikely to back the BJP — especially in Seemanchal and other border regions. A controversial clause allowing Electoral Registration Officers to refer “suspected foreign nationals” under the Citizenship Act, 1955, has further fueled accusations of voter profiling.
आज संसद परिसर के बाहर INDIA ब्लॉक की पार्टियों के साथ मिलकर बिहार में इलेक्शन कमीशन द्वारा SIR की प्रक्रिया को लेकर विरोध प्रदर्शन किया। SIR की प्रक्रिया में बहुत ज़्यादा धांधली उभर कर आ रही है और हम सब इस प्रक्रिया को इसी क्षण से रोकने की मांग करते हैं। pic.twitter.com/RHg62NxAgt
— Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh (@akhileshPdsingh) July 22, 2025
RJD MP Manoj Jha called the SIR a “direct assault on democracy,” alleging it violates Supreme Court directions. CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya demanded that the 2025 elections be held using the 2024 voter list and questioned the ECI’s claims about the presence of “foreign voters.”
The opposition demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi address Parliament directly on the SIR, along with other pressing issues like the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and atrocities against marginalised groups. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal stated: “These are not partisan demands. These are people’s issues. The government must answer.”
ECI Defends SIR Amid Fierce Criticism
In its affidavit to the Supreme Court, the Election Commission defended the SIR as essential to ensuring a clean electoral roll amid rapid urbanisation and migration. It claimed that as of July 18, the enumeration process had covered 94.68% of Bihar’s 7.89 crore voters.
The Commission clarified that the list of 11 documents is indicative, not exhaustive, and that objections and corrections can be filed starting August 1. It denied that Aadhaar alone is sufficient to determine voter eligibility under Article 326.
Still, the opposition remains unconvinced. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav have repeatedly stated that the exercise is a pretext for voter suppression, and have vowed to continue resisting what they see as an anti-democratic move.
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On the other hand, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Maske dismissed the protests as political theatre. “They don’t want a serious discussion. This is a strategy of noise, not substance,” he said, echoing the NDA’s frustration with the repeated adjournments.
Protests Expand Beyond Delhi
The agitation has spilled beyond Parliament. On July 21, coinciding with the start of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha’s Monsoon Session, opposition leaders led street protests in Patna. Congress, RJD, and Left party leaders condemned the SIR alongside issues of rising crime, unemployment, and inflation.
RJD’s Rabri Devi and Congress leaders Rajesh Ram and Shakeel Ahmed Khan led demonstrations, while Left party MLAs, dressed in black kurtas, accused the ECI of colluding with the BJP to rig the elections. “Election thief, leave the throne,” read their placards.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called for a nationwide protest on August 8, accusing the ECI of being “blatantly biased” and operating as a “captive agency” of the ruling party.
Legal and Electoral Stakes Rise
The Supreme Court, in its July 10 hearing, declined to halt the SIR but questioned the timing and the exclusion of commonly held identity documents. With Bihar heading into a closely contested election later this year, critics say the SIR could reshape voter rolls in NDA’s favour under the guise of electoral hygiene.
The ECI maintains it is operating under Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act and insists the process involves community volunteers and BLOs for transparency. But opposition leaders like Abhishek Banerjee accuse the Centre of using “E² tools — the Election Commission and the Enforcement Directorate” to suppress dissent and voters.
The escalating protests over Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision have brought the question of electoral integrity into the national spotlight. As opposition MPs bring Parliament to a standstill and state-level protests gather steam, the standoff between the INDIA bloc and the NDA is intensifying.
With electoral disenfranchisement now a central flashpoint, the coming days will test whether the Monsoon Session delivers answers or merely more adjournments. And with Bihar’s polls looming, what unfolds on the floor of Parliament — and the streets of Patna — could reshape not just the state’s future, but the nation’s faith in the ballot box.
