Parliament Schedules Vande Mataram, Electoral Reform Debates Next Week
Rajya Sabha clears twin mega-debates after Opposition showdown.
The Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee, chaired by Deputy Chairman C P Radhakrishnan, finalised a crucial schedule on Wednesday evening, allocating dedicated sessions for two high-profile debates next week. Tuesday will witness a ten-hour commemoration marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram’s composition, while Wednesday or Thursday will host an equally extensive discussion on electoral reforms, including the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The decision follows prolonged disruptions since the Winter Session commenced on December 1, with Opposition parties insisting on an immediate debate on alleged irregularities in the SIR process across several states. Sources confirmed that the electoral reforms discussion will proceed only after the Lok Sabha concludes its own debate on the subject, ensuring coordinated parliamentary scrutiny of the Election Commission’s ongoing intensive revision exercise.
In the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the lower House will debate Vande Mataram on Monday and electoral reforms on Tuesday, following consensus reached at an all-party meeting and the Business Advisory Committee chaired by Speaker Om Birla. The synchronised scheduling across both Houses marks a significant de-escalation of the parliamentary impasse that had stalled proceedings for multiple days.
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Opposition leaders have described the government’s agreement to dedicate substantial time to the SIR issue as a notable concession, interpreting it as acknowledgment of their sustained pressure. They intend to highlight reported instances of booth-level officers facing extreme workload and coercive tactics, alongside alleged deletions and manipulations in voter lists in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal—claims consistently rejected by the Election Commission.
With ten hours allocated in each House, the forthcoming debates promise rigorous examination of both national heritage and electoral integrity. As Parliament prepares for potentially charged discussions, the resolution of the logjam signals a return to structured legislative business in the final stretch of the Winter Session.
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