The Congress party declared the Opposition’s demand for a parliamentary debate on the Election Commission’s alleged “votebandi” in Bihar as “non-negotiable,” intensifying a standoff that has stalled both Houses of Parliament. The controversy centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which the Opposition claims is a deliberate move to disenfranchise voters ahead of the state’s Assembly elections.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman’s ruling, which cited a 1988 Lok Sabha precedent barring discussions on the Election Commission, arguing it contradicts a 2023 Rajya Sabha ruling by the then-Chairman allowing broader discussions with minimal restrictions.

Ramesh accused the government of ignoring the 2023 ruling and orchestrating “votechori” through the Election Commission, not only in Bihar but potentially in West Bengal and Assam. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra challenged the government to debate the issue, attributing the parliamentary logjam to the ruling side’s inability to address concerns. I

NDIA bloc MPs have been protesting within the Parliament complex, demanding transparency on the SIR exercise, which they allege undermines democratic processes, escalating tensions as the Opposition presses for accountability.

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