The Rajya Sabha came to a halt for the fifth consecutive day, as repeated adjournments during the post-noon session resulted in another adjournment due to mounting political tension and procedural deadlock.
With resumed pandemonium from Opposition benches regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls, the Chair had to adjourn proceedings till Monday.
The Opposition, citing grave irregularities and lack of transparency in the ongoing exercise of revising the list, asked for a full debate under Rule 267, especially ahead of critical Assembly elections in Bihar later this year.
The Upper House, even after recurrent appeals from the Chair and union ministers, remained paralysed - making it once again evident that the increasing anxieties over electoral fairness and institutional trust have been reworked.
Earlier during the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh had adjourned the House till noon after rejecting nearly 28 notices filed under Rule 267 by Opposition members. The notices pertained to a host of issues of pressing concern, ranging from the SIR in Bihar, Manipur's constitutional developments, and the effect of India-UK trade talks on local industries.
When the House reassembled at noon, the presiding officer Ghanshyam Tiwari commenced Question Hour by calling upon BJP MP K. Lakshman (Uttar Pradesh) to ask a question about a government campaign. But proceedings were soon disrupted as Opposition members drowned out Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's efforts to speak in the House by shouting slogans.
Unfazed, Chouhan asked the members to keep the house in order, emphasizing the necessity of undertaking important legislative work. Still, with the noise not dying down, the Chair again adjourned the sitting, this time until Monday.
Tensions had already erupted during Zero Hour in the morning when attempts by Deputy Chairman Harivansh to permit pressing issues to be brought up were disrupted by mayhem. Members such as Ajit Bhual, Rajiv Shukla, Ranjeet Ranjan, Trichi Siva, Santosh Kumar P., and Ramji Lal Suman were not given an opportunity to speak, prompting angry protests.
In response, the Chair invoked Rule 235—which prohibits placard displays and unruly conduct—before calling for an adjournment.
In the midst of chaos, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan made his official entry into Parliament by taking oath as a Rajya Sabha MP in Tamil. Contesting for Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and backed by the DMK-led alliance, Haasan won unopposed. He vowed to defend the Constitution and took oath along with DMK colleagues Rajathi, S.R. Sivalingam, and P. Wilson.
In spite of the disruptions, normal parliamentary business continued. Demand grants and a report on India's trade arrangements with Gulf countries were tabled by Commerce Minister Jitendra Prasad.
Some members such as Ram Nath Thakur, Bhagirath Choudhary, Kiran Choudhary, and Shaktisinh Gohil tabled committee reports.
While doing so, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan presented the legislative agenda for the current week. Some of the key items include the Goa Bill 2024, the Merchant Shipping Bill, and two significant sports-related pieces of legislation: the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping Bill 2025.
The sports administration bill seeks to form a Sports Regulatory Board and brings in provisions like mandatory ethical codes, athlete representation, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
While the Opposition insists on discussing electoral processes and institutional accountability, and the government holds its ground on procedural rules, the Rajya Sabha seems to be stuck in an escalating logjam over governance transparency and democratic norms.
Read also| Strong India-UK friendship is essential for global progress, says Narendra Modi
