New Delhi, Dec. 2 -- A short winter session of Parliament, with a new Chairman of the Upper House, began on a fractious note on Monday, with opposition parties demanding an immediate debate on electoral reform, and disrupting business in the process, despite the government's assurance that it would consider the proposal.

The INDIA bloc of opposition parties has said it will launch a protest from Tuesday, seeking an immediate debate on an issue that they have repeatedly raised over the past few months - although it seems to have little traction among the voting public if the Bihar results are any indication.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to that outcome and to the importance of parliamentary business in his opening remarks outsid...