Parliament Winter Session: All-Party Meet Begins Ahead of Winter Session as Opposition Pushes for SIR Debate

On the eve of the Winter Session of Parliament, an all-party meeting convened under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh began in New Delhi. The government reiterated its intention to conduct the session smoothly, but early indications suggest the proceedings may once again be overshadowed by political confrontation. The Opposition, led by the Congress and INDIA bloc parties, has made it clear that the ESIR issue will dominate their agenda inside the House. Leaders argued that while the government insists ESIR is strictly under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission—a constitutional and autonomous body—the broader concerns around electoral processes and reforms deserve parliamentary discussion. During the previous Monsoon Session, similar demands by the Opposition were rejected, with the government maintaining that matters related to the Election Commission cannot be debated in Parliament. However, with ESIR operations now extending across 12 states—including politically sensitive West Bengal—the Opposition is expected to intensify its push for a structured debate. Meanwhile, the government is preparing to introduce nearly a dozen bills during the session. As both sides remain firm on their positions, the likelihood of disruptions and heated exchanges appears high