The Opposition in the Lok Sabha has formally submitted a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of bias and unfair handling of proceedings. The notice, handed to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General, includes signatures from around 118–119 MPs from Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, and other parties.
Opposition leaders allege that Birla acted in a partisan manner during the President’s address debate, denying time to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other MPs, and suspending eight Opposition members, limiting their voice in the House.
Speaker Birla did not reject the motion. Instead, he directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to examine it and take appropriate action as per parliamentary rules, while emphasizing the need to expedite the process. Experts say the notice must be carefully verified before it can be debated in the House.
While most Opposition parties signed the notice, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chose to withhold its signature, citing the need for discussions with the Speaker first. This points to some differences within the Opposition bloc. Reports also indicate that Rahul Gandhi’s name does not appear on the notice, reflecting strategic decisions within Congress.
According to parliamentary rules, once the notice is verified, a minimum waiting period of 14 days is observed before the motion can be debated and voted on. Removing the Speaker requires a majority vote, making it unlikely the motion will succeed given the ruling alliance’s strength.
The move comes amid a tense budget session marked by frequent disruptions and mutual accusations between the ruling alliance and opposition over parliamentary conduct. The opposition had also sent a letter denying claims by Birla that women MPs planned to disrupt proceedings, calling the allegations “false and baseless.”
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