New Delhi: Several MPs from the INDIA bloc staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Friday, opposing the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls and alleging widespread poll manipulation, which they described as “vote theft.”
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, and other opposition MPs from the DMK and Left parties gathered near the Makar Dwar of Parliament, holding placards and raising slogans demanding the withdrawal of the SIR.
This marked the 13th day of the ongoing protest, which had only paused on Monday following the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
Banners at the protest site read, “Our Vote. Our Right. Our Fight,” and “SIR – Silent Invisible Rigging.” The MPs also carried placards with slogans like “Stop SIR” and posters accusing the Election Commission of colluding with the government.
Some of the posters referenced allegations of “vote theft,” echoing claims made by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, during a press conference on Thursday.
Opposition parties have been protesting the SIR in both Houses of Parliament, alleging that the exercise is intended to “disenfranchise voters” in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections later this year. They have been demanding a formal discussion on the issue in both Houses.
The SIR has led to a persistent deadlock in Parliament. Aside from discussions on Operation Sindoor, legislative business has largely stalled since the Monsoon Session began on July 21, with repeated adjournments—mostly over the SIR controversy.
