Government Agrees to Parliamentary Debate on Electoral Reforms and Special Intensive Revision of Voter Rolls

The government has consented to the opposition's requests for a parliamentary discussion on electoral reforms, with particular emphasis on the contentious Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls ordered for each state, sources informed NDTV Tuesday afternoon. The House's Business Advisory Council will determine the time allocation for this debate later today, according to sources.

Parliament's winter session commenced Monday with opposition parties increasing pressure on the government regarding the Election Commission-mandated re-verification of voter rolls in each state, including Bengal and Tamil Nadu, two non-BJP governed states scheduled for elections next year.

This pressure continued into the second day, prompting Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to admonish the protesting opposition parties, particularly the Congress; the BJP has recently launched several criticisms at its main rival following another electoral defeat, this time in Bihar.

Rijiju, speaking in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, avoided naming specific parties but stated, "Two to four parties are disrupting the House. In a democracy, people win and lose. They should not express their frustration in this manner... By doing this, you are eroding public trust."

The opposition, spearheaded by the Congress and Bengal's governing Trinamool, has strongly criticized the SIR, contending that it serves as a pretext for illegally removing legitimate voters – who might otherwise support them – from electoral registers. Both have also referenced the recent Bihar election – conducted after an SIR in the state and resulting in a decisive BJP victory – to substantiate their arguments.

Additionally, opposition parties have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of collaborating with the Election Commission on this matter. Both the BJP and EC have categorically denied these allegations.

The SIR controversy also reached the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in favor of the Election Commission, determining that the top electoral body possessed the authority to conduct such a review.

Subsequently, the controversy has expanded to include allegations of pressure being exerted on BLOs, or booth-level officers, to complete voter list re-verification. This became particularly contentious after several BLOs died, either by suicide or other causes, and others reported experiencing significant pressure.

On Monday, a substantial protest occurred outside the Election Commission's Kolkata office as BLOs in Bengal expressed concerns about mental health and working conditions.

Also on Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha that the government is not opposed to discussions on SIR or electoral reforms, but urged the opposition not to insist on a specific timeline. The opposition, however, remained firm, walking out to demonstrate their position.

Earlier that day, Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan disallowed notices submitted by nine opposition members, including one requesting a discussion on SIR, triggering vehement protests.

BLOs are field workers who conduct door-to-door visits to register new voters, update details, and remove duplicate or ineligible names, often traveling considerable distances despite having regular employment elsewhere.