Opposition Walks Out of Rajya Sabha Over Denied Bihar Electoral Roll Debate

Tensions flared in the Rajya Sabha as opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, including Congress, Left parties, DMK, RJD, and Trinamool Congress, staged a dramatic walkout on Tuesday, protesting the refusal to discuss the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The walkout occurred moments after the Upper House took up The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, which was subsequently passed amid the absence of opposition members.

The SIR, initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on June 24, 2025, aims to update Bihar’s voter list ahead of the state assembly elections by verifying eligible voters and removing ineligible ones, citing factors like urbanization, migration, and potential inclusion of non-citizens. However, opposition parties, led by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, have fiercely criticized the exercise, alleging it risks disenfranchising marginalized communities, including Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities, with claims of over two crore voters potentially affected. The issue has dominated the monsoon session since July 21, with opposition MPs repeatedly raising it through notices under Rule 267, all rejected by the Chair.

As the session resumed at 2 pm, Deputy Chairman Sasmit Patra prioritized the Mines and Minerals Bill, prompting Kharge and others to demand an immediate discussion on the SIR. Their pleas were denied, leading to slogan-shouting and the walkout. The bill, already passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, expands the National Mineral Exploration Trust’s scope to fund exploration within and beyond India, aiming to reduce reliance on countries like China for critical minerals essential for electronics and renewable energy.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Stalls Again as Opposition Demands Bihar Voter Roll Debate

NCP’s Praful Patel highlighted the global trade dynamics, noting, “China’s dominance in rare earths gives it leverage to disrupt global supply chains. India must exploit its own resources to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.” He criticized delays in environmental clearances due to NGO interventions. TMC (M)’s G K Vasan called the bill timely, emphasizing its role in modernizing mining frameworks, curbing illegal sand mining, and creating jobs. TDP’s Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha echoed the sentiment, aligning the bill with PM Modi’s vision. BJP members seized the opportunity to attack the previous UPA regime’s alleged “coal scam,” praising the Modi government’s transparent auction processes.

The opposition’s protests extend beyond the Rajya Sabha, with INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marching to the ECI office on August 11, raising slogans like “vote chor, gaddi chhor” (stop vote theft). The ECI has defended the SIR, asserting its constitutional mandate under Article 326 to ensure only citizens vote, while dismissing fraud allegations as baseless. A Supreme Court petition challenging the SIR’s legality, filed by groups like the Association for Democratic Reforms, is pending, raising concerns about due process and potential voter suppression.

The walkout underscores a deepening rift, with opposition leaders like Jairam Ramesh accusing the Modi government of stifling debate, while BJP’s JP Nadda has criticized the opposition for wasting over 64 hours of parliamentary time. As Bihar’s elections loom, the SIR remains a flashpoint, with the opposition vowing to intensify protests.

Also Read: TMC's Derek O'Brien Urges SIR Withdrawal in Bihar