Prime Minister's Pre-Session Media Interaction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to brief the media on the opening day of the Winter Session of Parliament, scheduled to take place at Hans Dwar in Parliament House. This media interaction comes amid growing tensions between the government and opposition parties, setting the stage for what promises to be a contentious parliamentary session.
Opposition Unity on Electoral Roll Revisions
The Parliament session anticipates a stormy beginning as opposition parties demonstrated remarkable unity during Sunday's all-party meeting. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw opposition leaders collectively demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They have explicitly warned that they might disrupt parliamentary proceedings if the government refuses to accommodate their demand for this discussion.
The government has already indicated its position that a discussion on SIR per se would not be feasible. Officials argue that the Special Intensive Revision represents an administrative exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India, an autonomous constitutional body, and therefore the government cannot answer on its behalf.
Broader Opposition Agenda and Government Response
Beyond the SIR controversy, opposition parties used the all-party meeting to push for discussions on several other critical issues. These include the recent Red Fort blast incident, the ongoing crisis of air pollution affecting several northern states, and recent developments concerning the government's foreign policy initiatives.
The government is preparing to table fourteen crucial bills during this session, though the opposition's threatened disruptions could significantly impact the legislative agenda. The Winter Session traditionally serves as one of the year's most important parliamentary periods, where key legislation is often passed before the budget session.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced an extension for submitting enumeration forms in the Special Intensive Revision exercise across twelve states and union territories. The deadline has been pushed to December 11, with the draft electoral roll now scheduled for publication on December 16. The final electoral roll will be released on February 14, 2026.
This SIR exercise marks a significant departure from the usual annual revision process, as it involves a comprehensive fresh revision rather than routine updates. The government maintains that this administrative process falls entirely within the Election Commission's domain, while opposition parties argue that such extensive electoral roll revisions demand parliamentary scrutiny and discussion.
