NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday said the Opposition's demand for a discussion on the " votebandi " by the Election Commission is "non-negotiable" in both Houses of Parliament.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the Chair in the Rajya Sabha continues to hold authority, regardless of who is presiding.
"Yesterday, the Deputy Chairman gave a ruling that because the Lok Sabha Speaker had said so on December 14, 1988, any matter concerning the Election Commission cannot be discussed in Parliament. But on July 21, 2023, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a Modi appointee, had categorically ruled that 'the Rajya Sabha is entitled to discuss anything under the planet with only one restriction'," Ramesh said in a post on X.
Former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar was Rajya Sabha chairman at the time.
"He had gone on to say that the 'only one restriction' related to the conduct of any judge except on a motion related to his removal. The then-Chairman had added that the concept of sub-judice was totally misconceived," he added.
Ramesh said the opposition is repeatedly reminded that Parliament works based on rulings and conventions.
"Why is the Rajya Sabha Chairman's ruling of July 21, 2023, being so wilfully ignored?" he asked.
"The Opposition's demand for a discussion on the votebandi and votechori – being orchestrated by G2 through the Election Commission in Bihar & to be followed in West Bengal, Assam, and other states — is non-negotiable in both Houses of Parliament," Ramesh said.
Parliament has been facing a logjam over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition has alleged that the exercise is being done to cut votes before the assembly elections in the state.
The opposition has also been protesting in both Houses against the SIR exercise. They allege that the Election Commission's work in Bihar is aimed at " disenfranchising voters " before the Assembly elections. The opposition is demanding a discussion on the matter in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the Chair in the Rajya Sabha continues to hold authority, regardless of who is presiding.
"Yesterday, the Deputy Chairman gave a ruling that because the Lok Sabha Speaker had said so on December 14, 1988, any matter concerning the Election Commission cannot be discussed in Parliament. But on July 21, 2023, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a Modi appointee, had categorically ruled that 'the Rajya Sabha is entitled to discuss anything under the planet with only one restriction'," Ramesh said in a post on X.
Former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar was Rajya Sabha chairman at the time.
"He had gone on to say that the 'only one restriction' related to the conduct of any judge except on a motion related to his removal. The then-Chairman had added that the concept of sub-judice was totally misconceived," he added.
The Chair in the Rajya Sabha is a continuing entity in spite of the comings to and the goings from it - both scheduled and unscheduled.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 6, 2025
Yesterday, the Deputy Chairman gave a ruling that because the Lok Sabha Speaker had said so on Dec 14, 1988, any matter concerning the Election… pic.twitter.com/b4qtATczx3
Ramesh said the opposition is repeatedly reminded that Parliament works based on rulings and conventions.
"Why is the Rajya Sabha Chairman's ruling of July 21, 2023, being so wilfully ignored?" he asked.
"The Opposition's demand for a discussion on the votebandi and votechori – being orchestrated by G2 through the Election Commission in Bihar & to be followed in West Bengal, Assam, and other states — is non-negotiable in both Houses of Parliament," Ramesh said.
Parliament has been facing a logjam over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition has alleged that the exercise is being done to cut votes before the assembly elections in the state.
The opposition has also been protesting in both Houses against the SIR exercise. They allege that the Election Commission's work in Bihar is aimed at " disenfranchising voters " before the Assembly elections. The opposition is demanding a discussion on the matter in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
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