In a significant escalation of parliamentary tensions, the Opposition, led by the Congress party, has formally submitted a notice for a No-Confidence Motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The notice, signed by 118 Members of Parliament, was delivered to the Lok Sabha Secretary General under Rule 94C of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
Notably, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Rahul Gandhi, refrained from signing the petition. Congress sources clarified that within the framework of parliamentary democracy, it is considered improper for the LoP to sign a formal petition to remove the Speaker.
Key Grievances and Procedural Hurdles
The Opposition’s move is fueled by allegations of bias and the suppression of dissenting voices. The primary reasons cited for the motion include:
Restricted Speech: Allegations that LoP Rahul Gandhi was unfairly denied the floor during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
Preferential Treatment: Claims that Treasury Bench members are given undue leeway while Opposition leaders are frequently interrupted or silenced.
Conduct Issues: Concerns regarding the treatment of women MPs and the general atmosphere of the House.
The process faced a brief clerical hiccup when the initial notice erroneously cited the year 2025 instead of 2026. Upon realizing the mistake, the Opposition retracted the first document and promptly submitted a corrected version to the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Government Response: "Numbers Are Not on Their Side"
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, dismissed the motion as a futile political exercise. While acknowledging the Opposition's right to bring such a motion, he emphasized that they lack the necessary numerical strength to see it through.
Rijiju further criticized the Opposition's behavior, citing instances where members allegedly climbed onto officials' tables, describing such actions as an insult to the Speaker’s chair.
Constitutional and Historical Context
Under Article 94 of the Indian Constitution, a Speaker can be removed from office through a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Lok Sabha. Such a resolution requires at least 14 days' notice.
Historically, removing a Speaker has proven to be an uphill task. This marks only the fourth time in Indian history that such a motion has been initiated:
| Year | Speaker | Proposer | Outcome |
| 1954 | G.V. Mavalankar | Vigyaneshwar Misir | Defeated after debate |
| 1966 | Hukam Singh | Madhu Limaye | Failed (Lacked minimum support of 50 MPs) |
| 1987 | Balram Jakhar | Somnath Chatterjee | Defeated by the House |
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has confirmed receipt of the notice and is currently evaluating it to determine the next procedural steps.
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