Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday moved a resolution seeking a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, alleging partisan conduct during parliamentary proceedings.
According to reports, 118 Opposition MPs have signed the motion. The members accused the Speaker of favouring the ruling side during debates and proceedings in the House.
The move follows an incident in which Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was reportedly not allowed to speak in the House, drawing criticism from Opposition parties.
As discussions began, Congress leader K. C. Venugopal raised concerns about the absence of a Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha for several years. He said the delay in filling the post had created a constitutional vacuum and urged the House to elect a member to preside over proceedings during the debate on the motion.
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the session, informed members that ten hours had been allotted for the debate. He asked MPs to keep their remarks limited to the subject of the motion and to follow the allotted time limits.
Pal also stated that the Speaker had permitted the Opposition to introduce the resolution and had facilitated the procedural requirements for the discussion.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad rejected the allegations made by the Opposition, describing them as baseless.
From the government’s side, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is expected to begin the debate. Several BJP MPs, including Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey, and Bhartruhari Mahtab, are also expected to participate in the discussion.
On the Opposition benches, Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Manish Tewari, Deepender Singh Hooda, and Jothimani are likely to present arguments in support of the resolution.
The motion comes during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, which began on January 28. The first phase concluded on February 13, while the second phase is scheduled to continue until April 2.
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