Winter Session begins today; Opposition set to mount strong protest over SIR exercise

The Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday at 11 am, and the Opposition is preparing to raise a strong and coordinated protest against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise is 'unplanned and one-sided.' Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Vijay Kumar Vasanth have moved adjournment motions in both Houses demanding an urgent debate on the issue.

The 6th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Session of the Rajya Sabha commenced this morning, with the Opposition announcing that the SIR will be one of its primary points of confrontation during the 19-day session that ends on December 19.

Congress accuses EC of ‘vote chori’, flags pressure on BLOs

In his adjournment motion, Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore described the SIR as an attack on democratic processes, alleging that the Election Commission was enabling “vote chori” under the guise of electoral roll revision.

Tagore also highlighted the reported deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the verification process, claiming that excessive workloads and mounting pressure had led to exhaustion and even suicides in states where SIR is underway.

“BLOs are dying, suicides are happening in the 12 states where SIR is happening,” Tagore told ANI, reiterating the Opposition’s demand for a detailed debate in Parliament. “We want the Parliament to function and the discussions to take place. We want a discussion on SIR, which is an attack on democracy.”

Kanyakumari MP calls SIR ‘unplanned and one-sided’

Kanyakumari MP Vijay Kumar Vasanth, who also submitted an adjournment motion, called the revision process “unplanned and one-sided,” alleging that BLOs have been subjected to extreme pressure without adequate support or consultation.

He criticised the Election Commission for institutional cruelty in not investigating the reported deaths or releasing data related to the incidents. According to the MP, the repeated verification procedures have left the public confused and frustrated, making the SIR process “anti-people and anti-democratic.”

Vasanth has demanded that the SIR be suspended, the deaths of BLOs investigated, families compensated, election procedures reformed, and the Election Commission summoned to answer questions.

Second phase of SIR covers 13 States and UTs

The second phase of the SIR exercise covers Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, following the successful completion of the first phase in Bihar. The final voter list will be published on February 14, 2026.