In a stunning parliamentary showdown, opposition forces have circled the wagons against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, filing a no-confidence motion amid the chaotic Budget Session. Signed by 118 MPs and moved by Gaurav Gogoi, the notice under Rule 94(C) levels serious charges of favoritism, demanding Birla step down per constitutional provisions.
At the heart of the complaint is Birla’s alleged one-sided stewardship: denying Rahul Gandhi a full hearing on February 2, suspending eight opposition voices on February 3 for exercising democratic rights, and allowing a BJP lawmaker’s unbridled personal attacks on ex-PMs on February 4 without reprimand. The document also slams Birla’s February 5 remarks after passing the Motion of Thanks by voice vote, accusing opposition of fabricating drama and advising the PM against entering the House.
Opposition leaders decry these as slanderous distortions that erode the Speaker’s impartiality. ‘We honor the individual but condemn the barriers to voicing people’s issues,’ the notice states. This high-stakes gambit arrives as daily disruptions plague proceedings, spotlighting long-simmering frustrations over House management. With numbers stacked against them, the move signals a strategic push to spotlight perceived injustices and rally public opinion ahead of tougher battles.