The Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday under the shadow of an Opposition united on the demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and warning that it might stall proceedings if the government does not agree.
The Opposition on Sunday indicated it was open to discussing SIR as part of a broader debate on electoral reforms, even as the government sought the cooperation of Opposition leaders for a smooth functioning of Parliament. It is learnt that the government told the Opposition that it would get back to them on the SIR issue, even as it proposed a discussion on Vande Mataram. The negotiations between the two sides first took place at an all-party meeting and then during the meetings of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
At the BAC meeting for the Rajya Sabha, chaired by Vice President and House Chairman C P Radhakrishnan, the government is learnt to have proposed a discussion on 150 years of Vande Mataram. While the Opposition members agreed, they insisted that the government accept their demand for a short discussion on SIR, currently underway in nine states and three Union Territories. It is learnt that the Opposition MPs said the SIR issue could be taken up as part of a broader discussion on electoral reforms, but added that it must happen on Monday afternoon itself. No decision on this was taken at the meeting, according to sources.
The Opposition raised SIR at the Lok Sabha BAC meeting too, it is learnt, insisting that a time for the debate on electoral reforms be fixed. It is understood that the government responded by saying it would get back to them on this. While the Opposition pushed for the proceedings to begin with a debate on electoral reforms, the Treasury benches said the first discussion in the Lower House would be on the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, as it is a constitutional obligation, it is learnt.
All-party meeting
Earlier in the day, the Opposition parties put up a united front at the all-party meeting, demanding discussions on SIR and the recent blast in Delhi in the context of national security, among other things. The all-party meeting also saw the Opposition demand discussions in Parliament on air pollution and foreign policy, among other things.
The government was represented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who chaired the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Also present was the Leader of the Rajya Sabha and Health Minister J P Nadda. In total, 50 leaders from 36 political parties attended the meeting.
Sources in the Opposition said the government did not commit to a discussion on SIR. “They listened patiently but did not say anything,” said a senior Opposition leader. Samajwadi Party (SP) Ram Gopal Yadav is learnt to have said the party will not “allow the House to function” if SIR is not discussed.
The government had earlier signalled that a discussion on SIR per se would not be possible, as it was an administrative exercise being carried out by the EC, an autonomous body, and the government cannot answer on its behalf. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju suggested at the Idea Exchange session of The Indian Express on November 27 that if SIR had to be discussed, “the subject has to be widened, (like) a reform… We can think about it”.
“The Opposition parties were unanimous that the issue of SIR should be discussed, also national security, rural distress and federal issues, including how Governors sit on Bills passed by state legislatures. A whole range of issues was raised by the Opposition and other parties,” said CPI(M) leader John Brittas. Sources said the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which is not part of the Opposition INDIA bloc, has also demanded a discussion on electoral transparency.
Referring to Rijiju’s comment. Brittas said, “We welcome that, let them widen the topic and bring reforms in the electoral process. We are ready for that.”
Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, said his party wanted a discussion on the Delhi blast as it was “a testimony to the failures of our home affairs departments”.
He said the Opposition also sought a discussion on the “security of democracy”. “There should be a discussion on the security of voter lists and election security. Our third demand was the security of our health, given the way air pollution is increasing in every corner of the country. The fourth issue was our economic security. The fifth issue we raised was natural security. The way floods, landslides, and hurricanes are occurring, there is no preparation,” he said.
Gogoi alleged that the functioning of the Parliament had eroded, finding support from TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee, who claimed the Opposition was not getting adequate space to function. “The government to Opposition ratio has been 70:30 when it comes to the time given to MPs on the floor of the House, whereas in a democracy, the Opposition should get more time to discuss,” he said, adding that fewer Bills go to Standing Committees nowadays.
Sources said the Opposition parties would meet Monday morning to fine-tune their floor strategy. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has convened a meeting of Opposition floor leaders, but it is to be seen whether parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is not part of the INDIA bloc, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) attend the meeting.
After the Bihar poll defeat, the Winter Session provides the Opposition with an opportunity to get its act together and unite against the government on a common political platform. The issue of SIR is of concern for not just the Congress, but also parties such as the TMC, the DMK, and CPI(M), with the states where they are in power — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala — set to go to polls next year.
The government has listed 13 Bills to be taken up for consideration, discussion and passage in the session, which is scheduled to end on December 19 after 15 sittings.
Rijiju said the all-party meeting was cordial and positive. “We have taken note of the suggestions given by leaders of various political parties. We will think about it. I want to assure everyone on behalf of the government that we will continue talking with the Opposition to ensure that the session runs smoothly. Also, I want to urge the Opposition leaders to extend cooperation to run Parliament smoothly … if we all decide not to disrupt the House … talk out the differences, then productivity will rise, democracy will be strengthened, and the respect for Parliament among people will remain,” he said.