Parliament Winter Session Live Updates: INDIA bloc floor leaders to meet tomorrow at 9:45 am to plan Lok Sabha strategy

The Congress party has issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs, directing them to remain present in the House from December 8 to December 10.

The INDIA bloc will hold a Floor Leaders’ meeting tomorrow at 9:45 am in Parliament to finalise its strategy for proceedings on the floor of the Lok Sabha.

An agreement has been reached between parliamentarians to run the House "smoothly" after the government gave in to the opposition's demand to hold a discussion on the ongoing pan-India special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

After two days of chaos and disruptions, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held a Business Advisory Committee meeting with floor leaders, where it was decided that a 10-hour-long discussion on electoral reforms will be held in the Lower House of Parliament on December 9 and 10.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said on X that the all-party meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has decided to hold a discussion on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram from 12 pm on Monday, 8 December.

He added that the Lok Sabha will take up a discussion on election reforms from 12 pm on Tuesday, 9 December.

After a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leader K Suresh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate the debate marking 150 years of Vande Mataram.

He added that the Lok Sabha will take up the discussion on Vande Mataram on Monday, 8 December, followed by deliberations on electoral reforms on Tuesday, 9 December.

In a meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, floor leaders agreed that the House will function smoothly from tomorrow without any disruption.

The Business Advisory Council has decided to schedule a discussion on Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha on 8 December, followed by a detailed debate on electoral reforms on 9–10 December. 10 hours have been allotted for both discussions.

The Rajya Sabha has returned the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 to the Lok Sabha.

To break the ongoing deadlock in the House, the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has summoned a meeting of party leaders in his chamber at Parliament House today, according to ANI sources.

The standoff between the government and the opposition over holding a debate on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls persisted on Tuesday, as parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju declined to commit to a timeline despite saying the government was open to a discussion.

Opposition parties demanded that the SIR debate be prioritised over other business, while Rijiju insisted that the debate on Vande Mataram would be taken up first.

With the government refusing to give preference to the SIR discussion, opposition MPs raised slogans in the Upper House and later staged a walkout.

The Lok Sabha Speaker has summoned a meeting of party leaders in his Parliament House chamber at 3 pm today to break the ongoing deadlock, according to sources cited by news agency ANI.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "The Congress is 140 years old, but it behaves like a child. They have no understanding of issues... The people of Bihar have already given their answer to SIR. Does the Opposition and the Congress want to protect infiltrators?... They have no concern for public issues. Today, there should have been a discussion on farmers' issues, on village issues. If you have the guts, then discuss them and corner the government. The Opposition has neither direction nor issues..."

Parliament winter session 2025: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sanchar Saathi app, says," I have not studied the issue in full detail, but common sense tells me that these apps can be useful provided they are voluntary. Everybody who needs them should be able to download them. Making anything compulsory in a democracy is troubling. But I need to look a little more into what the logic is of the government. In fact, the government should explain all this to the public instead of just passing an order that the media reports. I think we need to have a discussion where the government explains what their thinking is."

Over Opposition's protest against SIR, BJP MP Dr K Laxman said, "This is not the agenda of the public. After repeatedly losing elections, the Opposition is disappointed...Congress and other parties face bankruptcy of agendas."

Opposition MPs raise slogans of "Vote chor, gaddi chhor' raising the issue of SIR in Lok Sabha, as the House proceedings begin on the second day of the winter session of the Parliament.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "The people who do drama and act, need excuses to do their acts. Recently, the Bihar elections have concluded, and the opposition had to face a huge defeat. They had raised this same issue they are raising now, in the last Parliament session as well. They did not raise any issue in the Parliament, and just created chaos. They obstructed the functioning of the House. People of Bihar have given their mandate, which is the most important thing in a democracy. Their only agenda is to fulfil their selfish demands... The government has clarified that it is ready to have discussions on all issues. The opposition just wants excuses to cause obstructions and to mislead the country. The opposition is forced to accept faulty leadership... I urge them to participate in discussions as per the rules and laws. If they have a shred of morality left, they should respect the mandate given by the people of Bihar..."

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi gives notice seeking adjournment of the business of the house, demanding discussion on 'vulnerabilities in our electoral rolls, which now threaten the very foundation of free and fair elections. At a time when faith in institutions is already strained, irregularities in voter lists raise serious questions about the commitment of authorities to uphold the democratic mandate.'

Kanniyakumari MP Vijay Kumar alias Vijay Vasanth has moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, calling the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision a rushed and unplanned exercise that has pushed India’s electoral system into crisis.

BSP chief Mayawati has appealed to both the ruling dispensation and the opposition to ensure a smooth and orderly Winter Session of Parliament so that crucial national and public-interest issues like air pollution in Delhi and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls can be discussed meaningfully.

In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister cautioned that, like previous sessions, the Winter Session beginning Monday is expected to witness considerable uproar. However, she stressed that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) wants both Houses to function smoothly to allow substantive debate on urgent matters.

She also highlighted the practical difficulties and objections arising during the ongoing SIR, along with the challenges faced by booth-level officers (BLOs), pointing to incidents of suicides allegedly linked to work pressure.

These issues, she said, need to be addressed through proper discussion and effective solutions.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced two bills to prevent prices of sin goods such as tobacco and pan masala from falling once the GST compensation cess ends. The measures would allow the government to levy new excise duties on tobacco products and impose a health and national security cess on pan masala. Revenue from excise will be shared with states, while the new cess will fund public health and security. Rates proposed range from Rs 5,000– Rs 11,000 per 1,000 cigarettes, with high duties on other tobacco forms. The bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha despite some opposition.

TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu on Monday appealed to the Opposition to ensure that the Winter Session of Parliament is constructive, arguing that disrupting proceedings does not strengthen their voice. He stressed that significant efforts are being made to enhance transparency in the voter verification process. “We want this session to be productive… All the BLOs are being trained (for SIR), and all the parties are being invited at the booth level to come and verify the voter list. How much more transparent can it get?… The problem with a few parties in the Opposition is that they think stalling the Parliament will give them more voice rather than actually… participating in debates,” he said.

In sharp contrast, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the Central government for avoiding substantive discussions, questioning how Parliament could function if the government refused to engage. “The government does not want to have a discussion on anything. Then how will the House run?… If not on SIR, then the election reforms or any other related issue can be discussed,” she said. She also rebuked the Prime Minister for advising people to “enjoy the weather”, pointing to Delhi’s worsening pollution: “Which weather are Delhites supposed to enjoy?”

The Lok Sabha, repeatedly disrupted by slogans, was ultimately adjourned for the day and will reconvene on Tuesday at 11 am. Between 11 am and 2 pm, the House saw three adjournments, allowing only around 50 minutes of legislative business. Amid the uproar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, explaining that delays in Manipur’s GST update stemmed from the state assembly’s suspension.

Efforts by MP Krishna Prasant Tenneti, presiding over the session, to restore order were unsuccessful, prompting the final adjournment.

The opening day of the winter session saw repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha and sharp exchanges in the Rajya Sabha, even as the government pressed ahead with its legislative business. The Lok Sabha was adjourned several times—first until noon, then until 2 pm, and finally for the day—as opposition members demanded an immediate discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Both Houses also made obituary references and congratulated the Indian Women’s Cricket Team for winning the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, alongside victories in the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup for the Blind and the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup.

Amid loud sloganeering, the Lok Sabha Speaker appealed to members to refrain from disruptions and uphold proper parliamentary conduct, noting that MPs are elected to raise public concerns, not to obstruct proceedings. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, and the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, while the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed.

Before the session began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the media that Parliament is “not merely a ritual” but a source of renewed national momentum. “It is my firm belief that this session will infuse new energy into the efforts… to accelerate the nation's progress,” he said. He highlighted India’s robust democratic participation—especially the high voter turnout in Bihar and rising engagement of women voters—and affirmed that “India has proven that Democracy can deliver.”

Urging all parties to prioritise constructive debate and national interest, he cautioned against letting electoral setbacks or victories shape parliamentary behaviour. He called for more space for first-time MPs, stressed that Parliament is for “policy and delivery, not drama”, and expressed confidence that the session, under the new Rajya Sabha Chairman’s guidance, would strengthen democratic functioning.

On Monday, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman, CP Radhakrishnan, called on members to lead by example, emphasizing the importance of upholding constitutional values. He stated that the Constitution and parliamentary procedures set the ‘Laxman Rekha’ for parliamentary discourse. Expressing gratitude for his election, Radhakrishnan, presiding over his first winter session, underlined the importance of citizens embodying the constitutional principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.

"I am honoured to serve Bharat Mata, and I thank you for electing me as Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. We should all take pride in India’s democracy and celebrate it as the 'Mother of Democracy,'" he said. Reflecting on his journey from Tiruppur to New Delhi, he added, "In a democracy, anyone can rise from humble beginnings to high positions, which makes me more conscious of the responsibilities of the Chair."

Radhakrishnan acknowledged the legacy of past leaders who shaped the Rajya Sabha with intellect, dignity, and commitment to democracy. "I assure the House that I will uphold their great legacy," he said, emphasising that the constitutional values ensure that all citizens have a rightful place in the nation, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, or religion.

He urged members to lead by example and foster tolerance for differing views. Reflecting on his previous meeting with Rajya Sabha floor leaders, he reminded them that the nation looks to them for mature deliberation on policies. "We must work with commitment to fulfil the people's aspirations," he added, stressing that dialogue, deliberation, and discussion are the core principles of parliamentary democracy.

Radhakrishnan also urged effective use of parliamentary tools like Question Hour and Zero Hour to address the concerns of citizens. He called for collective action to meet constitutional commitments towards social justice and the economic empowerment of marginalised groups.

In closing, he reaffirmed India’s march towards a "Viksit and AtmaNirbhar Bharat" and appealed for cooperation to achieve this goal through meaningful debates in the Rajya Sabha.

Opposition parties disrupted proceedings in the Lok Sabha and staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the winter session, demanding an immediate debate on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told MPs that the issue was under government consideration but could not be tied to a timeline.

The Congress-led opposition, citing alleged suicides of booth-level officers due to workload, insisted on prioritising the debate, while Trinamool Congress appeared to follow its own line. Repeated slogan-shouting in the Lok Sabha forced multiple adjournments, though a GST amendment bill and two bills on levies for ‘sin goods’ were passed amid the din.

In Rajya Sabha, opposition MPs pressed the issue immediately after Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan’s first day as chairman. Walkouts and protests are expected to continue, with the INDIA bloc planning demonstrations outside Parliament to push for discussion of the SIR.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan’s first day as Rajya Sabha chairman saw a warm welcome from the treasury benches, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside tense exchanges with the opposition over former VP Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation.

PM Modi lauded Radhakrishnan’s rise from humble beginnings, saying it exemplifies the strength of democracy, and assured him that the Upper House will uphold the dignity of the office. Modi also praised Radhakrishnan’s ability to rise above protocol in public life.

However, clashes arose when Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted Dhankhar’s sudden exit, urging the chairman to ensure opposition voices are treated equally and the House functions impartially. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Leader of the House J. P. Nadda criticised Kharge, defending Radhakrishnan’s unblemished record.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, said, "Nobody is undermining any matter which was brought out by the opposition parties yesterday in the all party meeting or today. It is under the consideration of the government. If you put a condition that it has to be taken up today itself, then it becomes difficult because you have to give certain space... The matter related to SIR or electoral reforms, the demand that you have pout forward has not been rejected. Don't presume that the government is not ready to discuss on any matter..."

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien on Monday urged Chairman C P Radhakrishnan to hold a debate on the electoral roll revision exercise, stressing that he is the custodian of the Council of States.

As the Upper House welcomed Radhakrishnan on his first day of conducting the House proceedings, O'Brien wished good health to the chairman and his family, and also urged him to "keep federalism healthy".

"We wish you good health, we wish you happiness... You have moved from Coimbatore to a place where the air can be a problem... so good health, sir..." he said.

"The second one is to keep federalism healthy... We use these terms -- Upper House, House of Elders -- loosely. There are people from different states who all bring their stories here, who want to express themselves here... You are the custodian of the Council of States. I am absolutely sure you will help us raise our voices in this Council of States..." he said, as he also mentioned the issue of pending MGNREGS funds for West Bengal.

The TMC leader said there are certain "vital parameters" which can determine the health of Parliamentary democracy, and mentioned that the average number of sittings of Parliament has been coming down.

"The average number of sittings per session is now below 20 days... In this session, it is 15 days. This has to improve," O'Brien said.

"The second parameter - discussion on various issues allowed by the Chair. Between 2009 and 2016, 110 discussions were allowed. In the last eight years, it's down to 36 discussions..." he said.

Untreated sewage, missing effluent treatment plants, project delays and a major shortfall in solid waste processing are the key reasons the Yamuna remains polluted in the national capital, the Jal Shakti ministry said on Monday.

The ministry also said that the Delhi Jal Board spent about Rs 5,536 crore over the past three financial years on efforts to keep the river clean.

In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said Delhi had a sewage treatment gap of 414 MLD in August 2025, lacked common effluent treatment plants in several approved industrial areas, and continued to face delays in completing and upgrading sewage treatment projects.

He added that Delhi generates 11,862 tonnes of solid waste daily but has the capacity to treat only 7,641 tonnes, leaving a gap of 4,221 tonnes.

The minister noted that the Yamuna enters Delhi at Palla, where its water quality fluctuates through the year depending on water availability and catchment discharge. Median Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels between January and July 2025 stood at 4 mg/l and 6 mg/l respectively, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

A DPCC assessment in September recorded improved figures, with BOD at 2.5 mg/l and DO at 9.5 mg/l, both within healthy limits.