Congress submits no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with 118 MPs’ backing

The Congress and its allies have formally submitted a notice of no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, intensifying the confrontation between the opposition and the treasury benches during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament. 

According to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, the notice was submitted at 1.14 pm under the provisions governing the removal of the Speaker, invoking Article 94(c) of the Constitution and the relevant procedural rules.

The resolution seeks Birla’s removal from office, alleging that he has conducted Lok Sabha proceedings in a “blatantly partisan manner.”

The motion has been backed by 118 Members of Parliament belonging to several opposition parties, including the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The number of signatories meets the threshold required for the notice to be considered for admission.

In the text of the resolution, the opposition has argued that leaders from opposition parties were repeatedly denied opportunities to speak during key debates, including the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.

The notice also cites the suspension of eight MPs as part of the sequence of events that prompted the move.

Opposition leaders have maintained that preventing elected representatives from raising issues amounts to curtailing their democratic rights inside Parliament. They contend that the motion is a constitutional and procedural step aimed at formally registering their protest against the functioning of the Chair.

The filing of the notice marks a shift from earlier consultations among opposition parties to concrete parliamentary action. If admitted, the resolution could lead to a significant debate on the floor of the Lok Sabha over the conduct of proceedings and the role of the Speaker’s office.

Under parliamentary procedure, the motion’s future course will depend on whether it is taken up for discussion by the House. Even as the government retains a numerical advantage, the opposition’s move is expected to sharpen political tensions and shape proceedings in the coming days of the session.

The development underscores the widening rift between the ruling alliance and opposition parties, with recent sittings already witnessing repeated disruptions, slogan-shouting, and adjournments.