New Delhi: The Lok Sabha is set to open a crucial debate on election reforms today, with a major focus on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The discussion comes after months of demands from the opposition, led by the Congress, which has alleged serious discrepancies in the voter lists under the ongoing revision.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is expected to open the debate and intensify his criticism of the SIR process. Gandhi has repeatedly accused the government and the ECI of using the revision exercise to delete genuine voters. On November 23, he sharply criticised the SIR, calling it “an imposed tyranny” that had caused confusion across the country and placed extreme pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), resulting in several reported deaths.
He also questioned the ECI’s reliance on outdated paper records, saying citizens were forced to search through thousands of scanned pages from decades-old voter lists. Gandhi argued that a transparent, digital, and searchable database would eliminate confusion and strengthen trust in the electoral process.
The government is set to respond with its counterarguments during the ten-hour debate allocated across both Houses. It has consistently denied allegations of voter suppression and maintains that the SIR is essential to keeping the electoral rolls accurate.
In the Lok Sabha’s schedule for the day, BJP MPs Radha Mohan Singh and Virendra Singh will table four reports from the Standing Committee on Defence, detailing government action taken on earlier recommendations related to the Ministry of Defence’s 2025–26 grant proposals.
Additionally, UPPL MP Joyanta Basumatary and BJP MP Rodmal Nagar will present Final Action Taken Statements from the Standing Committee on Water Resources. The reports deal with issues including the Upper Yamuna river cleaning projects, riverbed management in Delhi, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s 2024–25 funding requirements.
The Winter Session of Parliament, which commenced on December 1, marks the 6th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Session of the Rajya Sabha. The session will continue until December 19.
