Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision Sparks Parliament Protests
Day 2 of Monsoon Session Adjourned Within Minutes Amid Uproar
The Indian Parliament’s Monsoon Session on July 22, 2025, was disrupted within minutes of commencement, as Opposition parties vocally protested against Bihar’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Accusing the exercise of being a tool for mass voter disenfranchisement, leaders stormed the well of the House, effectively halting proceedings for the day.
Opposition’s Stand: Why the Protest?
Congress MP Manickam Tagore led the charge in the Lok Sabha by submitting a notice on the issue. However, before any meaningful discussion could take place, the House was adjourned. Opposition members carried placards and gathered near the Makar Dwar, symbolically demonstrating their displeasure.
On the Rajya Sabha front, the situation mirrored that of the lower house. Members attempted to debate the SIR, but Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected 12 notices filed under Rule 267, which calls for suspending all business to discuss a pressing issue.
The SIR Controversy in Bihar
The Special Intensive Revision exercise, initiated to update Bihar’s electoral rolls, has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, has emerged as a central figure in the resistance, alleging that the move could disenfranchise large sections of voters. On July 20, he released letters sent to 35 political leaders across India, appealing for collective opposition to the SIR process.
Many Opposition leaders argue that the exercise lacks transparency, proper oversight, and disproportionately targets marginalized communities.
Parliamentary Business Disrupted
Despite the planned discussions around critical legislative matters—such as The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha and The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 in the Rajya Sabha—no deliberation could proceed. The day’s business came to a halt as political protests overshadowed legislative responsibilities.
Larger Implications: Right to Vote and Democratic Integrity
The protests raise deeper questions about the sanctity of democratic rights in India. While the right to vote is a statutory right under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the SIR controversy brings to light how administrative processes can influence voter access. The Opposition insists that this revision could disenfranchise thousands, especially in socio-economically vulnerable sections.
