No-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla likely to be discussed on March 9

New Delhi: The opposition's no-confidence motion to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is likely to be discussed in the House on March 9th, the first day of the second phase of the current Budget Session. Sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat provided this information.

Sources said, "It is likely that the motion to remove the Speaker of the Lok Sabha may be discussed on March 9th, the first day of the second phase of the Budget Session." Sources also said that Birla will not sit in the chair until the matter is resolved. Birla has directed Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh to examine the opposition's notice and take appropriate action.

The opposition submitted a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary General on Tuesday to move a motion to remove Birla from office, accusing him of running the House in a biased manner, making false allegations against Congress members, and abusing his position.

5 Key Takeaways

• Opposition parties have consistently alleged that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is not conducting the House proceedings impartially and is showing a bias in favor of the ruling party. However, given the Lok Sabha's numerical strength, this no-confidence motion is being considered largely symbolic, with little chance of passage.

• On Tuesday, opposition parties submitted a notice of no-confidence against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla under Article 94(c) of the Constitution. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi stated that the notice was formally submitted at 1:14 pm under Rule 94C of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

• According to the Congress, the motion has the signatures of a total of 118 MPs. Several opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), have supported the motion, along with the Congress. However, the Trinamool Congress has not yet signed the motion.

• In the notice of no-confidence motion, opposition MPs have alleged that the Lok Sabha Speaker has repeatedly denied them the opportunity to raise important issues of public interest in the House. The opposition says this is why they have been compelled to bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

• All eyes are now on March 9, when the motion's further course of action may be decided on the first day of the second phase of the Budget session.