Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Directs Swift Review Of Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion
New Delhi: In a rapid development amid the ongoing turmoil in Parliament’s Budget session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has instructed the House secretariat to promptly examine and process a no-confidence motion submitted against him by opposition parties.
The notice, backed by 118 signatures, was delivered to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh by Congress leaders K Suresh, Gaurav Gogoi, and Md Javed. It was moved under Article 94(c) of the Constitution, accusing the Speaker of conducting proceedings in a “blatantly partisan manner.” The opposition alleges that leaders from their ranks, including the Leader of Opposition, have been repeatedly denied opportunities to speak, which they describe as a violation of fundamental democratic rights.
Birla’s written response arrived within an hour of the motion’s submission. He directed the secretariat “to examine the no-confidence notice and to expedite the process,” according to sources familiar with the matter.
The opposition’s grievances stem from recent incidents in the Lok Sabha, including the interruption of Rahul Gandhi’s speech during the Motion of Thanks debate on the President’s address and the suspension of eight opposition MPs. These events have contributed to a persistent deadlock, marked by frequent adjournments and sloganeering.
Efforts to resolve the impasse earlier included meetings between the Speaker and key figures from both the government and opposition, such as Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress’s Abhishek Banerjee, and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav. Opposition demands included allowing the Leader of Opposition to address the House and revisiting the suspensions.
The session has also seen unusual developments, such as the passage of the President’s speech without a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi—a first in 22 years—following disruptions linked to Gandhi’s reference to excerpts from an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General (retired) MM Naravane on India-China relations. Birla had cited intelligence suggesting potential disruptions by some Congress MPs, leading to the Prime Minister’s non-participation, though the opposition dismissed these claims.
The text of the no-confidence notice was accessed exclusively by Hindustan Times, which reported on the allegations of bias and procedural denials.
As the House grapples with continued disruptions, Birla’s directive signals an intent to address the challenge without delay, though historical precedent shows no successful removal of a Lok Sabha Speaker in India’s parliamentary record.