TMC to support no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

The motion is in response to his decision to not allow Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House and quoting from former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir regarding the 2020 standoff with China.

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has announced that its MPs will support the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, following the direction of party chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

The development comes ahead of the second phase of the Budget Session, scheduled to begin on March 9, when three Congress MPs, Mohammad Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh, and Mallu Ravi, are set to move a resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Birla.

The motion is in response to his decision to not allow Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House and quoting from former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir regarding the 2020 standoff with China.

Congress MPs have accused Birla of partisanship, claiming he made “unwarranted allegations” against women opposition MPs and suspended eight opposition members for the remainder of the session while not disciplining ruling party MPs for “derogatory” remarks against former Prime Ministers.

“Having taken into consideration the conduct of the Speaker of the House as regards disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition leaders to speak, making unwarranted allegations against women MPs belonging to the Opposition, suspending Opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern and not rebuking ruling party members for making wholly objectionable and derogatory remarks against former PMs, feels he has ceased to maintain an impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House,” the list of business for Lok Sabha read.

The Congress also accused Birla of “openly espousing the version of the ruling party on all controversial matters,” stating that such conduct “constitutes a serious danger to the proper functioning of this House and ventilating effectively the felt concerns and grievances of the people.”

During the first phase of the Budget Session, the Lok Sabha witnessed repeated disruptions, including uproar after Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from General Naravane’s memoir. Birla had suspended eight opposition MPs for violating House rules and announced he would not preside over proceedings on moral grounds until the no-confidence motion was resolved.

Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress issued a three-line whip to their MPs, expecting their presence in the House from March 9 to 11.

Earlier, the TMC had stated that it would wait a few days before taking a position, giving the Chair time to reconsider the issues. TMC Parliamentary Party Leader Abhishek Banerjee said the party “believed in being more tolerant” and did not want to “flex muscles” through the notice.

If the motion is taken up, the House will have a discussion on it. The opposition also has the option to withdraw the notice when the matter comes up on March 9 if it chooses not to proceed.

The second phase of the Budget Session is scheduled to continue until April 2, during which key legislative and other business is expected to be addressed.