Parliament passes poll reforms Bill amid Oppn walkout

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 21

The Rajya Sabha today passed a Bill to link electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem amid a walkout by the Opposition and high drama when Derek O’Brien flung a rulebook in the direction of the Chair after which the Trinamool MP was suspended from the House for “unruly behaviour”. The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which seeks to usher in reforms in the electoral process, was passed by voice vote. It now stands passed by Parliament as the Lok Sabha had already cleared it. The Opposition Members of Parliament staged a walkout in protest against the Chair for not ceding to their demand for division of votes on a motion moved by them to refer the Bill to select committee. O’Brien, Trinamool Congress leader in the House, was among those who had moved the motion. He has been suspended for the remaining period of the winter session.

Edit: Electoral reforms

The salient features of the Bill include four cut-off dates in a year for voter registration (compared to one presently) and linkage of Aadhaar number with electoral roll ecosystem.