New Delhi, Dec 2: The Rajya Sabha, India’s Upper House of Parliament, witnessed a brief but intense session on Tuesday morning before being adjourned until 2 p.m., as opposition members intensified their protests over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The adjournment, coming just 20 minutes into proceedings, underscored the deepening impasse in the Winter Session, now in its second day, where demands for debate on alleged voter disenfranchisement have overshadowed legislative business.

Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, who assumed office in September, called the House to order at 11 a.m., but was immediately met with slogan-shouting from the Opposition benches.

Led by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and allies from the INDIA bloc — including Trinamool Congress, DMK, and AAP — members trooped into the Well of the House, brandishing placards reading “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chod (Vote Thief, Quit the Throne)”.

They renewed calls for an urgent discussion under Rule 267 on the SIR process, underway in 12 states and union territories ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, claiming it has led to over 30 deaths among Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and the wrongful deletion of millions of names, particularly from marginalised communities.

Kharge, invoking Monday’s unresolved notices, accused the government of “saving itself at democracy’s expense”.

“We submitted detailed notices yesterday — names, subjects, everything — but they were ignored. Thirty lives lost, families shattered, and you have ignored it all,” he said.

From the Treasury side, Leader of House J.P. Nadda urged restraint, promising consultations. “The Chair will decide; let’s not derail the session. Multiple bills await,” he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, fired back with a mix of plea and provocation, “You’re fixated on one issue when the nation grapples with floods, jobs, and security. Elections you lose, anger you vent here — focus on governance, not grandstanding.”

His remark drew sharp rebuttals, with Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien retorting, “We’re fighting for votes, not vengeance; your delays are the real drama.”

Chairman Radhakrishnan, maintaining his characteristic calm, appealed for order multiple times, warning against disruptions. Meanwhile, the routine business continued amid uproar and sloganeering. The chairman again pleaded with the opposition members to maintain order, but din persisted, forcing the adjournment till 2 p.m.

Hyderabad, Dec 2: Telangana Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Tuesday warned that Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s movies will not be allowed to be released in theatres in Telangana if he fails to apologise over his “insulting” remarks about Telangana.

He told media persons that screening of Pawan Kalyan’s films will be permitted only after he tenders an unconditional apology for his remarks.

“If Pawan Kalyan apologises, his movies will be screened at least for a couple of days, but if he fails to apologise, his films will not release anywhere in Telangana. I am saying this as the minister for cinematography,” said Venkat Reddy, who also holds the portfolio of roads and buildings.

The minister clarified that the issue is not related to megastar Chiranjeevi, who is elder brother of Pawan Kalyan. “Chiranjeevi is a sober man. He always stays away from controversies,” he said.

He remarked that Pawan Kalyan is new to politics and, after becoming the Deputy Chief Minister, he had been making “controversial” statements.

The minister said that at a time when Telangana completed 12 years, and entered into the 13th year, Pawan Kalyan made the “insulting” remarks.

The Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister had recently blamed the “evil eye” for “dying” coconut trees in the development of the Konaseema region, known for lush green fields.

The Jana Sena leader, who visited the region last week to inspect the coconut trees damaged by seawater from a drain, blamed it on “evil eye”. He was apparently referring to the bifurcation of the state.

His remarks have evoked a strong reaction from leaders in Telangana.

Animal Husbandry Minister Vakati Srihari said that Pawan Kalyan was “unable to digest” the tremendous development of Telangana.

He remarked that the Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM “lacks” maturity.

Srihari alleged that the Jana Sena leader was making such statements for political mileage and demanded that he immediately take back his words.

Congress MLA from Jadcherla J. Anirudh Reddy demanded that Pawan Kalyan tender an unconditional apology.

“If Telangana has cast an evil eye on Godavari and Konaseema, why is Pawan Kalyan staying in Hyderabad?” he asked.

Anirudh Reddy told Pawan Kalyan to sell his properties in Hyderabad and shift to Vijayawada.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 2: The hunt for first-time Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who has been absconding since a sexual assault case was registered against him, entered its sixth day on Tuesday.

The case was filed after a woman submitted a complaint directly to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, prompting the Kerala Police to launch an intensive search amid mounting pressure from the ruling Left government to secure his arrest before his anticipatory bail plea is heard on Wednesday.

Mamkootathil vanished from public view within hours of the case being registered, and multiple police teams are now searching possible hideouts, including locations in Coimbatore and Bengaluru.

His disappearance has triggered a political storm, with the Left and the BJP accusing the Congress of shielding the absconding legislator.

BJP leader Prashanth Sivan on Tuesday alleged that the red car reportedly used by Mamkootathil to escape had been stored months earlier at the residence of a Congress leader who had hosted a group meeting in support of Rahul.

He further claimed that the state police were conducting only a “cosmetic investigation” under the influence of the CPI(M) leadership.

“This is a superficial probe meant to throw dust in people’s eyes. Congress leaders are protecting an MLA who stands accused of serious abuse. What message are they giving to the women of Kerala?” he asked, adding that there were reasons to suspect that Mamkootathil was being sheltered in the homes of Congress leaders in Palakkad.

Senior Congress leader and KPCC general secretary C. Chandran, however, dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated”.

He said he had no connection with the red car, adding that he had used Mamkootathil’s four-wheeler only once to travel to the hospital when his own vehicle was under repair.

“The party has already taken action against Mamkootathil. Claims that Congress leaders are protecting him are baseless,” he said.

Meanwhile, investigators are probing whether any Congress functionary aided Mamkootathil’s disappearance.

They have recorded statements from the complainant’s friends, one of whom said the woman was in severe physical and emotional distress following an abortion.

While public activist Rahul Eashwar was jailed on Monday for his alleged curt remarks against the victim, the police have registered 20 cyber-abuse cases related to online attacks against the complainant.

With political tensions escalating and the red-car trail being closely examined, the pressure on the police to locate the missing MLA has intensified as the crucial bail hearing approaches.