Parliament: Election reforms debate sees sharp exchanges across treasury and opposition benches

The second day of the parliamentary debate on electoral reforms recorded intense remarks and pointed accusations from both the government and the opposition. Voices from across parties deliberated on the scope, intent, and implications of electoral reforms and SIR, turning the Lok Sabha into a forum of heated discussion.

BJP defends SIR amid questions on election oversight

Responding to the Congress’s criticism of the government for excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection committee for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs), BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad made a striking statement.

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He said, “When the Prime Minister can be trusted with the nuclear button, why can’t it be the case when selecting a good CEC or EC.” He asserted that the Opposition was manufacturing distrust in constitutional processes.

Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan launched a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during the debate, stating: “The Congress and its leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi, need to understand that it is not their votes that were stolen, their mandate has been stolen. They no longer have any public support. The situation will not change for them unless they introspect and understand the reasons behind their repeated defeats in elections.”

#WATCH | Delhi: On Lok Sabh LoP Rahul Gandhi’s statement regarding EVMs, Union Minister Chirag Paswan says, “…They have no faith left in any institution. They have lost trust in all constitutionally independent institutions, even institutions like the Election Commission. In… pic.x.com/bWD5a8vRI3

— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2025

Also read: Oppn demands paper ballots, BJP counters with emergency jibe

Opposition raises alarm over misuse of SIR

Opposition MPs centered their criticism on the misuse and overreach of the SIR mechanism. Congress MP KC Venugopal accused the Election Commission of enabling electoral malpractice instead of curbing it. “Instead of preventing anti-national acts like ‘vote chori’, EC is enabling it,” he charged.

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav alleged that the SIR process was being weaponized by the Centre. “The Election Commission is working at the Centre’s behest; it is illegally seeking citizenship proof through SIR,” she said, calling for safeguards against political misuse.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi also made a remark on SIR in the Lok Sabha today, calling it violative of Parliamentary legislation. He said, “It is a mala fide exercise of power to selectively disenfranchise on the basis of religion. Election Commission of India cannot be bigger than the Supreme Court and Parliament.”

TMC MP Shatabdi Roy claimed that any infiltration of Rohingyas or Bangladeshis into Bengal was a result of the Home Ministry’s failure. She said, “If there is any infiltration of Rohingyas, Bangladeshis into Bengal, it is because of the Home Ministry’s failure.”