On the first day of Winter Session, Opposition walks out over SIR

The Opposition walked out of the Rajya Sabha on Monday (December 1, 2025), the fist day of the Winter Session, demanding that the Union government announce a discussion on electoral reforms. Though Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Centre is not averse to holding a discussion and sought time, the Opposition members said their demand was urgent, as about two dozen booth-level officers (BLO) had died by suicide after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls began in several States.

Soon after the felicitation ceremony on the first session of Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien raised the issue and said all the Opposition parties demanded a discussion on SIR in whichever format suitable for the government. Mr. O’Brien asked the government to initiate a discussion immediately. He said Mr. Rijiju had told an all-party meeting that he would “come back” to the Opposition leader on the demand for a discussion on the electoral reforms.

At this point, Mr. Radhakrishnan sought Mr. Rijiju’s response. “Nobody is undermining any matter which was brought forth by the Opposition party in the all-party meeting or Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. What I am saying is, it is under the consideration of the government,” Mr. Rijiju said. “… If you set a condition that it has to be taken up today itself, then it becomes difficult, because you have to give certain space,” he added.

He said three or four Opposition parties had sought a discussion on the matter and some had raised other issues as well at the meeting. He said he needed to protect the interests of those parties too. “However, I am saying again, the matter related to whatever you call it, Special Intensive Revision or electoral reforms or whatever… I have stated before the beginning of the Winter Session that the government is not averse to taking up discussion on anything,” Mr. Rijiju said. “Please give us some time while there are other businesses, which are listed. The demand, which you have put forward, has not been rejected. So, don’t presume that the government is not ready to discuss any matter. Please do not put a condition on the timeline,” he added.

Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge too supported Mr. O’Brien and asked the government to stop attempts to divide the Opposition. “Don’t divide us. If you try to divide us, we will be stronger,” he said.

Mr. Kharge said all Opposition floor leaders had met at his chamber on Monday and decided to raise the issue of SIR in one voice. Senior Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said 23 officers have so far died by suicide. Most recently, Sarvesh Singh , a BLO from Moradabad, had taken his own life. “How many lives do they want to take? This isn’t the first time — many times, discussions have taken place on election reforms,” Mr. Tiwari said.