No-confidence motion against Om Birla defeated after 13-hour debate, Speaker retains post

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday defeated the no-confidence motion brought against Speaker Om Birla, allowing him to continue in the post after a marathon debate that stretched for more than 13 hours and witnessed heated exchanges between the government and the Opposition.

The motion was rejected through a voice vote conducted by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who presided over the House during the proceedings. The voting took place amid chaotic scenes as Opposition members raised slogans and protested during the debate.

The resolution had been moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and had the backing of 118 Opposition MPs. The Opposition alleged that Birla had displayed “partisan behaviour” and had failed to maintain the impartiality expected from the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker.

The debate on the motion began on Tuesday after Jagdambika Pal, who was officiating as Speaker, admitted the resolution and allocated 10 hours for discussion.

However, the debate stretched into Wednesday, with members from both sides engaging in intense arguments over the functioning of the House.

The Opposition claimed that the motion was intended to safeguard the dignity of Parliament rather than target Birla personally. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi initiated the debate, stating that the Speaker must remain completely neutral and ensure equal opportunity for all parties in parliamentary proceedings.

However, the government strongly defended Birla’s conduct and accused the Opposition of attempting to politicise the Speaker’s chair.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the allegations of bias and said Birla had conducted the House in a balanced and impartial manner. He accused the opposition parties of trying to weaken democratic institutions by bringing such a motion.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also delivered a sharp response during the debate, defending the Speaker and criticising the Opposition for what he described as double standards.

Shah asserted that the position of the Speaker is sacrosanct and said the rulings of the Speaker are protected by parliamentary conventions and are not subject to judicial scrutiny. He also cited past instances during Congress-led governments when similar motions were brought against the Speaker by parties that are now allies of the Congress.

According to Shah, parties such as the Samajwadi Party and the Communist Party had earlier moved no-confidence motions against the Speaker during previous regimes, highlighting what he called the Opposition’s shifting stance.

He further noted that Birla had set a new parliamentary precedent by stepping aside from the Speaker’s chair while the motion against him was being debated and decided. In earlier instances, Speakers had continued to preside over the House during debates on motions seeking their removal.

Shah also targeted Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during his remarks, questioning his participation in parliamentary proceedings. He pointed to Gandhi’s frequent foreign visits during parliamentary sessions and said he had often skipped important debates.

“When sessions come, he plans foreign trips. So, will he speak here from abroad?” Shah asked, drawing strong reactions from Opposition members.

The remarks triggered uproar in the House, with Opposition MPs rising from their seats and shouting slogans against the Home Minister. The noisy scenes continued as the House moved towards the final stage of the debate.

Despite the protests, Jagdambika Pal proceeded with the voice vote to decide the fate of the motion. The resolution was defeated, confirming that Birla would continue as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

The defeat of the motion was widely expected given the numerical strength of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and its allies in the House. However, the debate reflected the deepening tensions between the government and the Opposition during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.

While the ruling side described the outcome as a reaffirmation of the dignity of the Speaker’s office, Opposition leaders maintained that their concerns regarding the functioning of the House remain unresolved.

The episode marks one of the most contentious parliamentary debates in recent months and underscores the increasingly confrontational atmosphere in Parliament.