The Lok Sabha rejected the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla through a voice vote, yesterday. With this the two-day heated debate that highlighted growing tensions between the ruling coalition and Opposition parties, came to an end. The motion, tabled by Congress and its allies, alleged that Speaker Birla had acted in a partisan manner, undermining the impartiality expected of the chair. Despite repeated protests and sloganeering by Opposition MPs, the motion failed due to the ruling National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) numerical majority.
Opposition leaders accused Birla of favoring the government during crucial House proceedings, including restrictions on who could speak and delays in granting time for debates. They specifically highlighted instances where the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, was allegedly denied adequate opportunity to raise issues. Congress and allied parties argued that such conduct compromised parliamentary decorum and eroded trust in the Speaker’s office, prompting their bid to remove him under constitutional provisions.
The proceedings were marked by repeated disruptions. MPs from the Opposition chanted slogans, demanding an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah for remarks he had made in the House, and raised voices during the motion’s discussion. Presiding officers repeatedly called for order, but the session continued amid loud protests before the voice vote was conducted.
During the debate, Amit Shah defended Speaker Birla, describing the no-confidence motion as unprecedented and damaging to the institution of the House. He asserted that the Speaker had adhered to parliamentary rules and accused the Opposition of politicizing the proceedings. Shah also criticized Rahul Gandhi and other leaders for what he called attempts to undermine democratic norms.
The motion’s failure was widely expected due to the NDA’s majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Following the voice vote, Birla returned to the Chair and emphasized that “no one is above the rules of the House,” highlighting his commitment to impartiality and parliamentary decorum.
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