India’s political temperature has hit boiling point ahead of Bihar’s November 2025 elections, as opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several INDIA bloc MPs were detained in New Delhi during a dramatic protest against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties allege the revision is a “vote theft” plot by the BJP to disenfranchise millions, particularly minorities and the poor.
Delhi Turns Into a Protest Ground
On 11 August 2025, the opposition staged one of its most high-voltage demonstrations in recent years. Hundreds of MPs, led by Gandhi, marched from Parliament toward the ECI office, chanting “vote chori” slogans and holding banners denouncing the revision exercise.
Police intervened midway, detaining several MPs, including Gandhi—a move that opposition leaders blasted as “dictatorial” and aimed at stifling dissent. Protesters wore T-shirts highlighting absurd voter list entries, including a “124-year-old” marked as a first-time voter.
Why the Opposition Is Furious
The SIR demands strict documentation such as birth certificates, passports, or school-leaving records. Opposition leaders argue these requirements will exclude millions in Bihar, where literacy rates are among India’s lowest and access to official papers is limited.
They have drawn direct parallels to the 2019 National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, which excluded nearly two million people, mostly Muslims. Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of orchestrating the revision to “erase” opposition votes. “This is targeted voter elimination under the guise of verification,” he told reporters before being detained.
Parliament Deadlock Over Electoral Rolls
The protests have paralysed Parliament since the Monsoon Session began on 21 July 2025, with opposition MPs refusing to let proceedings continue until the SIR is debated. They insist the revision violates the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote.”
ECI and BJP Stand Firm
The ECI defends the SIR as routine voter list maintenance to remove deceased names, non-residents, and “foreign illegal immigrants.” It says 49.6 million voters from the 2003 roll are exempt from fresh document submission, while 30 million others must comply.
The BJP has echoed this position, calling the protests “a manufactured outrage” and accusing the opposition of spreading fear for political gain. Party leaders argue that the revision is essential for clean elections and to address undocumented immigration from Bangladesh.
Protests Poised to Escalate
The INDIA bloc has announced plans for state-wide rallies in Bihar and nationwide demonstrations, framing the fight as a battle for the “soul of Indian democracy.” With election day just three months away, the voter roll row has become a flashpoint that could dominate the 2025 Bihar campaign—and set the tone for national politics in the months ahead.
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