The INDIA bloc’s explosive allegations over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar raise urgent questions about electoral transparency, institutional credibility, and the stakes of 2025’s political battles
Our Bureau
New Delhi
New Delhi’s political atmosphere turned electric this week as opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc — including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra — launched a fierce protest against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in poll-bound Bihar. What began as a parliamentary disruption has now turned into a full-blown confrontation, with allegations of vote fraud, misuse of institutions, and outright treason.
On Friday morning, MPs from the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties gathered in front of Parliament’s iconic Makar Dwar, holding banners that read “SIR: War on Democracy”. The protest was visibly charged, with Priyanka Gandhi flanked by her mother Sonia Gandhi, in a rare public show of unity. The Opposition’s demand? An immediate discussion on what they claim is a covert attempt by the ruling BJP to manipulate voter data ahead of Bihar’s crucial elections.
The timing of the protest was no coincidence. The Election Commission of India (ECI) was set to release the draft electoral rolls of Bihar on the same day. The INDIA bloc claims that the SIR process, which includes the verification and revision of voter lists, is being manipulated to disenfranchise voters who are likely to oppose the ruling party.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi dropped a political bombshell: “We have open-and-shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. And I’m not saying this lightly — I’m speaking with 100% proof.” He called the findings of the Congress-led investigation into the SIR “an atom bomb,” hinting that the revelations could “shake the very foundation” of the Election Commission.
He went even further, accusing individuals within the ECI of engaging in actions “no less than treason.” Gandhi warned that all those complicit — from senior officers to junior officials, active or retired — would be held accountable. “Wherever you are, we will find you,” he declared.
The allegations have put the Election Commission in an unprecedented spotlight. While the ECI has maintained that the SIR is a routine part of voter roll maintenance, the intensity and coordination of the Opposition’s response have raised the stakes dramatically.
A controversial cartoon doing the rounds online shows a shackled official labelled “EC” holding what looks like an Electronic Voting Machine and saying “YES SIR,” — a stinging visual critique of what the INDIA bloc views as the Commission’s subservience to the central government.
In Parliament, chaos reigned. As soon as the Houses convened, sloganeering broke out. The Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attempted to maintain order but adjourned the House within minutes, saying, “You are not representing the public by sloganeering. If we want to strengthen democracy, issues must be raised properly.” The Rajya Sabha too was adjourned for the day, with Deputy Chairman Harivansh citing the subjudice nature of the matter, as the SIR issue is currently being heard in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh added another dimension to the political chaos by filing a Suspension of Business motion in the Rajya Sabha — not on the SIR, but on U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. Singh linked the economic fallout to strategic missteps, including India’s foreign policy toward Russia. Though his motion was dismissed, it underscored the multifaceted challenges facing the government.
For now, the INDIA bloc has made it clear this is just the beginning. Following a strategy meeting on Thursday, the alliance unanimously resolved to escalate protests both inside and outside Parliament. Their unified message: the SIR is not administrative housekeeping — it is political engineering.
Whether the Election Commission responds, or whether the Supreme Court intervenes, remains to be seen. But what is undeniable is that the SIR controversy has added fuel to an already heated election year. With Bihar being a critical battleground state, how this plays out could well influence the tone — and trust — in Indian democracy for months to come.
And as the INDIA bloc warns of more protests, leaks, and possibly explosive revelations, one thing is clear: the battle for Bihar’s voter list may well be the opening salvo in a much bigger fight over India’s democratic future.
