New Delhi: The Winter Session of Parliament commenced on Monday but quickly descended into disorder as demands from the Opposition over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls stalled proceedings in both Houses. The contentious start resulted in repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha before the session was ultimately called off for the day, while the Rajya Sabha witnessed a coordinated walkout by Opposition members.
Shortly after the session opened, Opposition parties pressed for an immediate debate on the electoral roll overhaul. Their insistence sparked uproar in the Lower House, interrupting business on multiple occasions. The Speaker’s appeals for calm went unheeded, forcing successive suspensions of the proceedings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking earlier in the day, trained sharp criticism at the Opposition, accusing them of treating Parliament as a mere “warm-up arena” before elections. He asserted that the nation expects productivity from its lawmakers, stressing that the focus should be on “delivery, not drama.” His remarks set the tone for a confrontational day inside the chambers.
Despite the din, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman managed to table two major legislative proposals in the Lok Sabha — the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Health Security and National Security Cess Bill, 2025. Both measures seek to revise duties and levies on tobacco and pan masala products, sectors the government has highlighted due to associated health concerns. Shortly after the bills were introduced, the Opposition resumed its protests, compelling the House to be adjourned again.
Amid the disruptions, the Lok Sabha passed the Manipur GST Bill. The decision came even as MPs from Opposition parties continued to raise slogans over what they described as the urgent need for transparency and scrutiny in the SIR exercise. The persisting disorder eventually led to the suspension of the Lower House for the remainder of the day.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition pursued a similar line of protest, seeking priority discussion on the electoral rolls issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded by stating that the government is open to debate, but asked members to allow business to follow its scheduled order. He stressed that while the matter could be taken up, the Opposition’s insistence on an immediate debate would only obstruct the functioning of the House.
The response failed to pacify Opposition leaders, who accused the Treasury benches of avoiding accountability. Their refusal to relent resulted in a dramatic walkout, leaving the government members to continue with the planned agenda in a largely empty Upper House.
Following the walkout, BJP leaders blamed the disruption on what they described as a political strategy by the Opposition to stall parliamentary business ahead of upcoming elections. They asserted that constructive dialogue would only be possible if the Opposition abandoned its approach and allowed regular proceedings to continue.
The stormy beginning to the Winter Session has raised concerns over the legislative agenda lined up for the coming weeks. With key bills awaiting deliberation and a contentious electoral debate looming large, the stage appears set for further confrontations unless both sides find common ground on procedures for discussion.
As the first day concluded with little substantive debate completed, parliamentary observers cautioned that the coming days will test the ability of both the government and the Opposition to ensure that the session does not succumb entirely to political sparring.
