Opposition Hits Out at "Vote Theft" in Fiery Parliament Protest
INDIA bloc MPs demand halt to Bihar voter roll revision.
In a charged demonstration at the Parliament House complex, opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc fiercely protested the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, branding it a deliberate attempt to rig the upcoming state assembly elections. The protest, held on Monday outside Makar Dwar, saw MPs from Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, Samajwadi Party, and Left parties unite in their call to "stop SIR" and end what they termed "vote chori" (vote theft).
Led by Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the MPs raised slogans like "vote chor, gaddi chhor" (vote thieves, leave the throne) and "vote chori band karo" (stop vote theft), wielding banners and posters decrying the SIR process. A prominent banner reading "vote chori" underscored their allegations of electoral manipulation. The opposition claims the SIR, which involves stringent documentation requirements, risks disenfranchising vulnerable groups, particularly Dalits, OBCs, Adivasis, and minorities, ahead of Bihar’s November 2025 elections.
Congress leader Naseer Hussain hinted at strong democratic measures, including a possible impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stressing the need for an "unbiased" poll body. "We will use every democratic tool to ensure fairness," Hussain told reporters, reflecting the opposition’s distrust in the Election Commission’s process.
Also Read: Rahul: BJP, EC Plot to Steal Bihar
The protest follows weeks of parliamentary disruptions, with the Monsoon session, which began on July 21, stalled repeatedly over the SIR issue. Apart from discussions on Operation Sindoor, little legislative business has progressed due to adjournments driven by the opposition’s demand for a debate on the voter roll revision. On August 11, over 300 INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, attempted a march to the Election Commission’s office but were detained by Delhi Police, escalating tensions further.
The opposition alleges the SIR’s strict requirements, such as birth certificates and passports, disproportionately affect Bihar’s poor and illiterate, potentially excluding millions from voting. They draw parallels to the 2019 Assam citizenship list, which left nearly 2 million people stateless, mostly Muslims. The Election Commission, however, defends the SIR as a routine update to remove ineligible voters, including deceased or migrated individuals, and insists no eligible voter will be left behind.
As the Bihar elections approach, the INDIA bloc vows to intensify its fight, framing it as a battle to protect democracy and the constitutional right to vote.
Also Read: Opposition Stages ‘T-Shirt Protest’ in Parliament Over SIR, ‘Vote Chori’
