Lok Sabha Set For Major Showdown As INDIA Bloc Moves Motion Against Speaker Om Birla

Parliament is bracing for a turbulent restart of the Budget Session on Monday, March 9, with both the government and the Opposition preparing for an intense confrontation in the Lok Sabha. The session, which will continue until April 2, is expected to witness heated exchanges as several contentious political and policy issues come to the fore.

At the centre of the political drama is a resolution moved by the Congress-led Opposition seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. At the same time, the ruling BJP-led NDA is preparing a counter move that could potentially place Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi under threat of expulsion from Parliament. Alongside domestic political clashes, the ongoing US-Iran conflict and other policy matters are also expected to feature prominently in parliamentary discussions.

Opposition Moves No-Confidence Motion Against Speaker

The day's proceedings are set to begin with the Opposition-backed no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla. The resolution has been supported by 118 MPs belonging to the INDIA bloc.

Opposition parties have accused Birla of what they described as "brazenly partisan" conduct, alleging that he has consistently silenced their voices in the House while favouring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Although the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which governs poll-bound West Bengal, initially hesitated to sign the notice, the party later confirmed that its MPs would back the motion.

The move comes amid a fresh political confrontation between the BJP and TMC. The ruling party at the Centre has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of disrespecting President Droupadi Murmu by not attending a recent event. Banerjee has rejected the allegation, countering that the BJP was "misusing the President's stature" and levelling false charges.

Economic issues may also intensify the debate. The price of domestic LPG cylinders was increased by ₹60 on March 7, a development the Opposition is expected to raise during the session.

Procedural Questions Around Motion

The absence of a deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha since 2019 could complicate the process of debating the motion against Om Birla.

Under standard parliamentary practice, the deputy speaker presides when a motion against the speaker is taken up, allowing the speaker to defend himself as an ordinary member. However, in the absence of a deputy speaker, Birla may have to appoint a member from the panel of chairpersons to preside over the proceedings.

Parliamentary experts suggest that a senior BJP leader such as Jagdambika Pal could be asked to oversee the debate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already come out strongly in support of Birla. Speaking earlier in a virtual address, Modi described him as a "brilliant" presiding officer who is "completely dedicated to the Constitution". He also praised Birla's patience in handling difficult situations in the House, saying he deals with "arrogant and unruly" members from "big families" with a smile.

Despite the expected confrontation, the BJP-led NDA's numerical strength in the Lok Sabha means the motion against the Speaker is unlikely to succeed.

Rahul Gandhi Faces Expulsion Threat

Running parallel to the motion against the Speaker is a separate political move targeting Rahul Gandhi.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has submitted a substantive motion seeking Gandhi's permanent removal from Parliament and a lifetime ban from contesting elections. Unlike a breach-of-privilege notice, a substantive motion can directly lead to expulsion if passed by a majority in the House.

Dubey has accused Gandhi of "continual misdeeds for destabilising the country". It remains unclear whether or when this motion will be taken up for discussion.

The controversy stems from Rahul Gandhi displaying an unpublished memoir titled 'Four Stars of Destiny' written by former Army chief General MM Naravane during the earlier phase of the session. Gandhi cited passages from the manuscript, claiming they "exposed" Prime Minister Modi's failure to take responsibility during the 2020 border conflict with China.

The government argued that referring to a manuscript that has not been cleared by the Ministry of Defence violated parliamentary rules. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the purported contents were "incorrect" and suggested that the author could approach the courts if he disagreed with the ministry withholding approval since 2023.

Foreign Policy Issues and Possible New Legislation

Beyond domestic political tensions, the government is also expected to address major foreign policy developments.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to deliver a statement in Parliament on the escalating crisis in West Asia following the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The Congress has criticised the government's approach, alleging that Prime Minister Modi had "abdicated" India's responsibility towards its long-standing partner Iran because he was "under some kind of pressure" from the United States and Israel.

Opposition parties have also demanded a detailed discussion on the proposed India-US trade deal. Rahul Gandhi has described the agreement as "anti-farmer" and "a surrender of sovereign interests".

In recent remarks, Opposition leaders pointed to the United States granting Indian refiners a 30-day waiver to continue buying Russian oil, arguing that it demonstrated how India's energy policy was becoming subject to American "blackmail".

Meanwhile, speculation continues over whether the government might introduce new legislation during the session without consulting the Opposition. Reports have suggested possibilities ranging from a fresh law on political funding to replace the scrapped electoral bond scheme, to measures aimed at upcoming state elections.

The government has denied reports that it plans to create a new Union Territory by merging districts from Bihar and West Bengal.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has also warned that if disruptions persist, the government could resort to the "guillotine", a parliamentary procedure that allows pending budgetary demands to be passed together without extended debate.