Bihar’s SIR Or Sindoor? Opposition Divided On ‘Perfect Storm’ To Counter Centre This Monsoon Session

Last Updated:July 27, 2025, 17:04 IST

Congress's Rahul Gandhi wants to corner the government on Operation Sindoor, but for the TMC and RJD, SIR is more important. The INDIA bloc will meet on Monday to decide

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other MPs from the INDIA bloc protest over the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI)

Is Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls more important than Operation Sindoor? That’s the dilemma of the Opposition this monsoon session, as the choice is between the devil and the deep sea.

Top Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc sources have told News18: “While Operation Sindoor is important, priority should be given to discussion on SIR as this hurts the rights of the people."

Politically speaking and with an eye on polls in Bihar and Bengal later, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) feel that if the government is not cornered on the issue of SIR, it could hurt their core vote bank.

Over the last few days of the first week of the monsoon session, the INDIA bloc was united in the fight against SIR. Wearing black bands and carrying posters, it was a rare show of strength. The worry within the INDIA bloc is that SIR would not be limited to only Bihar and Bengal.

Opposition’s Catch-22

It’s a catch-22 situation. The Opposition would earn the label of being anti-national in case the Operation Sindoor discussion is boycotted or ruckus is created by the Opposition parties.

Rahul Gandhi, who will be one of the lead speakers, wants to corner the government on two issues – one, repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that he brokered the ceasefire between Pakistan and India. Two, where are the terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack? The Congress would not want to give up this chance. But for the TMC and RJD, SIR is clearly more important.

There is another worry. Sources told News18 that some like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were not keen to give a platform to the PM on Operation Sindoor. “When the PM speaks on Operation sindoor, he is bound to make a huge impact and the Opposition may be caught on a backdoor. Why should we allow him to do so," they asked.

But it is too late for this as the business advisory council has already approved and allotted time for the debates in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Also, not allowing a discussion could be a tough one to explain to the voters as to why the Opposition running away from the debate on this issue which also has a potential of hurting the government if it can push the narrative that the government buckled under American pressure.

The BJP, meanwhile, will legitimately ask: If the Opposition was stressing on a special session on Operation Sindoor, then why now not allow a debate on this topic?

The dilemma has left the Opposition divided. However, the INDIA bloc will meet early Monday morning to take a final call on this. The choice between Sindoor and SIR is tough.

Pallavi Ghosh

Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als...Read More

Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als...

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