With tensions running high in Parliament, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday said it had advised the Congress to first approach Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with a formal appeal before moving a no-confidence motion against him. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said his party would back the motion if the Speaker failed to address the Opposition’s concerns within two to three days.
Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said the TMC had already conveyed that all its MPs were prepared to sign the no-confidence resolution. However, the party suggested that the Opposition should initially submit a joint letter of protest to the Speaker, flagging issues such as the suspension of MPs, the Leader of Opposition being denied the opportunity to speak, allegations involving women MPs, and what the party described as the Chair’s “partisan” conduct.
“We suggested that the Opposition should first write a letter to the Speaker, signed by all Opposition MPs, and give him two to three days to respond. If no action is taken, there is always the option of moving a no-confidence motion. We have no objection to that,” Banerjee said.
The TMC leader also took exception to repeated adjournments of the House, alleging that proceedings were being deliberately stalled. “Yesterday, the House was adjourned at 2 pm for the entire day, when it could have been adjourned for just an hour or two. Today, the Speaker did not come to the Chair. If there is genuine intent to run the House, it must be reflected in actions, not merely words,” he said, adding that while TMC MPs wanted the House to function, it was the Speaker’s responsibility to ensure equal opportunity for both the ruling side and the Opposition.
Despite TMC’s advice, the Congress on Tuesday went ahead and formally submitted a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the notice was submitted at 1:14 pm under Rule 94C of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
According to Congress sources, as many as 118 MPs have signed the no-confidence notice. The move has the support of parties including the Samajwadi Party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Sources said the Congress has sufficient numbers to move the motion within the constitutional framework, even if one or two Opposition parties choose not to extend support.
The development comes against the backdrop of Opposition allegations that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to speak during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. Sources said the no-confidence notice lists four instances of what the Opposition has termed “blatantly partisan” behaviour by the Speaker.
These include Gandhi being denied the opportunity to speak when he sought to refer to former Army chief General M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir in the context of the 2020 India-China standoff, the suspension of eight MPs, alleged “personalised and objectionable” remarks by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against former Prime Ministers, and a statement by Speaker Om Birla claiming he had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid attending the House to prevent any untoward incident following inputs about possible protests by some Congress MPs.
Opposition leaders have maintained that their protest is aimed at safeguarding the impartial and smooth functioning of Parliament, insisting that members from all parties must be given a fair opportunity to speak in the House.
