INDIA bloc MPs stage protest in Parliament over alleged irregularities in voter roll revisions in Bihar

New Delhi: Several MPs from the INDIA bloc parties staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Tuesday, opposing the Election Commission's voter roll revision exercise in Bihar. Many of them wore white T-shirts featuring the name and image of a "124-year-old voter" allegedly listed as a first-time voter in the state’s electoral roll.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TMC’s Derek O’Brien, DMK’s TR Baalu, NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule, and other opposition MPs from the DMK and Left parties gathered near Parliament’s Makar Dwar. Holding placards and shouting slogans, they demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise be rolled back.

This marked the fifteenth day of the protest.

One banner displayed by the MPs read "Our Vote. Our Right. Our Fight", while another described the SIR as "Silent Invisible Rigging".

Several MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi, wore T-shirts bearing the name and photo of 'Minta Devi', with '124 Not Out' written on the back.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that the Election Commission, under Rajeev Kumar and Gyanesh Kumar, had become a department of the BJP.

"Minta Devi is a first-time voter and she is 124-years-old. The voters list carries her name as first time voter. We are wanting a discussion on such issues. How EC has become a party to the BJP. The voter list is full of such fraud," he said during the protest.

The MPs carried placards reading "Stop SIR" and "vote chori", along with posters accusing the Election Commission of colluding with the government.

Opposition parties have been staging protests in both Houses of Parliament against the SIR, claiming that the Election Commission’s exercise is intended to “disenfranchise voters” in Bihar ahead of the state assembly elections later this year. They have consistently demanded a discussion on the issue in Parliament.

The matter has led to a legislative deadlock, with Parliament witnessing frequent adjournments and limited business since the Monsoon Session began on 21 July, apart from discussions on Operation Sindoor.

On Monday, opposition MPs—including Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and Sharad Pawar—marched from the Parliament House to the Election Commission’s office to protest against the voter list revision and alleged "vote chori". However, they were stopped by police midway and briefly detained amidst high drama.

Wearing white caps marked with a red cross over the words 'SIR' and "vote chori", the MPs set off from Parliament’s Makar Dwar carrying placards and banners. Police blocked their path with barricades near the PTI building.

Some MPs sat on the road and raised slogans, while a few women parliamentarians climbed over the barricades. The protesters were subsequently escorted by police in buses to the Parliament Street Police Station.

All detained MPs were later released. (PTI)