In a significant development during the ongoing Winter Session, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju declared the government's willingness to engage in discussions on electoral reforms. However, he set a clear condition: the debate must not take precedence over a pre-scheduled discussion commemorating the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram'.
Government's Stance on Parliamentary Business
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Rijiju outlined the government's position. He emphasized that while electoral reforms are "extremely very important," the discussion on Vande Mataram, which is intrinsically linked to India's freedom struggle, was already listed in the business advisory committee's agenda. The minister appealed to the Opposition not to insist on a timeline for the electoral reforms debate and to allow other listed business to proceed smoothly.
Rijiju assured the House that once the government is prepared, it would propose a date for the electoral reforms discussion in consultation with other members and the Chair. "My specific appeal is that when the government is ready to take up the discussion, please do not put a condition that it should take precedence over other matters," he stated, urging cooperation to let Parliament function.
Opposition's Demand for Immediate Discussion
The minister's statement was a direct response to persistent demands from Opposition leaders for an urgent debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge invoked Rule 267, arguing that the matter raised under it should prevail over other business. He appealed to Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan to permit an immediate start to the discussion.
The Opposition's push was backed by several parties. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien highlighted that 14 Opposition parties had united on this issue, citing serious public concerns. DMK MP Tiruchi Siva accused the government of reneging on its word and appealed for priority to be given to the SIR discussion, calling it a "genuine and serious" matter where people's voices needed to be heard.
CPI(M) member John Brittas questioned the government's obstinacy, pointing out that the Opposition had made a reasonable proposition for the discussion to begin the following day. He expressed bewilderment at the government's reluctance to agree to a scheduled debate on such a critical issue.
Clash of Priorities in Winter Session
The exchange underscores a broader clash of legislative priorities between the treasury and opposition benches. The government is keen to proceed with its listed agenda, which includes commemorating a landmark national event. In contrast, the Opposition is pressing for immediate parliamentary time to address what it perceives as an urgent administrative and democratic issue concerning electoral integrity.
This stalemate reflects the ongoing tensions in the Winter Session, where procedural rules and the order of business become points of contention. The government's offer for a future discussion on electoral reforms, while firm on its sequence, leaves the ball in the Opposition's court regarding how to proceed with its demands.
