Opposition Moves No-Confidence Motion Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

By: The Trek News Desk

Amid repeated disruptions and adjournments in the Lok Sabha, Opposition parties led by the Congress on Tuesday moved a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Following the submission of the motion, the proceedings of the Lower House were adjourned till 2:00 PM.

The notice was formally submitted by Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, K. Suresh, along with party Whip Mohammed Jawed Ahmed, to Lok Sabha Secretary-General Utpal Kumar Singh. As per sources, the motion has been moved under Article 94(c) of the Constitution, which allows a resolution for the removal of the Speaker after giving a minimum notice period of 14 days.

Reacting after the submission, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi stated that the core concern of the Opposition has been the repeated denial of opportunities for the Leader of the Opposition to speak in the House. He said this concern is shared by several Opposition parties. According to Gogoi, the motion expressing no confidence in Speaker Om Birla was officially submitted at 1:14 PM.

The resolution seeking the removal of the Speaker carries the signatures of 119 Members of Parliament. Signatories include leaders from multiple Opposition parties, such as the DMK’s T.R. Baalu, Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav, RJD, Left parties, and others. However, MPs from the Trinamool Congress have not endorsed the motion.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has also not signed the notice. Sources indicate that one of the charges mentioned in the resolution relates to his inability to speak in the House, which is why he chose to remain a non-signatory.

The Congress has accused the Speaker of adopting a partisan approach while conducting House proceedings. The party alleged that during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Rahul Gandhi was denied an opportunity to speak, raising serious concerns about parliamentary fairness.

The motion also refers to the recent suspension of eight Opposition MPs on grounds of unruly behaviour, seven of whom belong to the Congress. Additionally, the Opposition has alleged selective action, claiming that a ruling party MP was allowed to make personal remarks against two former Prime Ministers without facing any disciplinary action, despite repeated objections.

Strong objections have also been raised over remarks made by the Speaker in the House, where he claimed to have “concrete information” suggesting that certain Congress MPs might move towards the Prime Minister’s seat and engage in an “unexpected act.” The Opposition has termed these comments as an abuse of the constitutional authority of the Speaker’s office.

Separately, eight women MPs from the Congress had written to the Speaker a day earlier, alleging that they were being deliberately targeted for consistently opposing the Modi government’s policies and demanding accountability.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in a post on the social media platform X, recalled a historical precedent from 1954 when the Lok Sabha debated a resolution seeking the removal of then-Speaker G.V. Mavalankar. He cited Jawaharlal Nehru’s remarks from that debate, emphasising that the Opposition should be granted more time than the Treasury benches during such discussions.

Political observers view this development as a reflection of escalating tensions in Parliament and a show of Opposition unity. The next steps in the constitutional process and the political implications of the motion are expected to draw significant attention in the days ahead.

Source: News Agencies