No-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla set to be moved today

The Opposition has alleged that Birla has been “openly espousing the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters,” warning that such conduct threatens the proper functioning of the Lok Sabha.

• Opposition MPs move to remove Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker
• 118 MPs allege bias after Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to speak
• Both BJP and Congress issue whips for MPs to attend March 9-11

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A group of Opposition MPs is set to move a resolution seeking the removal of Om Birla as Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, accusing him of "partisan behaviour" in the functioning of the House.

According to parliamentary sources, 118 Opposition MPs have signed the no-confidence motion, alleging bias after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was allegedly not allowed to speak during proceedings.

The resolution will be taken up only if the House grants leave, a procedural step required before the motion can be formally debated.

Opposition MPs, including Gaurav Gogoi, Manish Tewari, Deepender Singh Hooda, and Jothimani, are expected to present arguments in favour of the motion in the Lower House.

On the government’s side, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, is likely to initiate the discussion. Senior BJP leaders, including Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Bhartruhari Mahtab, are expected to speak during the debate. Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), will also address the House.

Ahead of the debate, Rijiju strongly criticised the Opposition for bringing the motion, saying the move lacked justification.

“The second part of Parliament’s Budget Session is about to begin today. Sadly, it is beginning with a motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker, brought by the opposition, specifically the Congress Party, to remove him,” he told reporters.

Defending Birla, Rijiju said the motion had been introduced without “any reason” and merely to satisfy “one man’s stubbornness.” He added that the ruling party was ready to respond in Parliament and predicted the motion would fail.

“We will respond to that, but Congress must consider how far they will go to undermine constitutional positions and constitutional dignity,” he said.

Opposition leaders, however, have accused Birla of repeatedly favouring the ruling party. Besides alleging that Rahul Gandhi was prevented from speaking in the House, they have also criticised the suspension of Opposition MPs for raising public issues while, they claim, ruling party members were not reprimanded for making “derogatory” remarks against former prime ministers.

The Opposition has further alleged that Birla has been “openly espousing the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters,” warning that such conduct threatens the proper functioning of the Lok Sabha.

Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition Indian National Congress have issued a three-line whip to their Lok Sabha MPs, directing them to be present in the House between March 9 and 11.

Meanwhile, the All India Trinamool Congress announced last week that its MPs will support the motion following instructions from party chief Mamata Banerjee.

Separately, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present a statement on the Second Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025-26 in both Houses of Parliament.

In the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying S. P. Singh Baghel will also make a statement on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Fourth Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing regarding demands for grants related to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The Rajya Sabha is expected to resume discussion on the functioning of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, a debate initiated by BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari. The Upper House is also scheduled to hold a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Rural Development.

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed both Houses that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the evolving conflict in West Asia and that the government has issued advisories to Indian nationals in Iran.

The Budget Session of Parliament began on January 28, with the first phase running until February 13. The second phase of the session is scheduled to continue until April 2.