Divisions have emerged within the opposition INDIA bloc over a proposed no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, with differences surfacing between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
As the Congress moves to advance the no-confidence motion against the Speaker, the TMC has declined to extend immediate support. The TMC’s position has raised questions about opposition unity and added to the ongoing tensions in Parliament.
According to sources, the Congress is seeking to move the no-confidence motion without delay. The party has argued that the opposition’s voice is repeatedly being curtailed in the Lok Sabha and that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has not been permitted to speak. Citing these grounds, the Congress prepared a notice for the no-confidence motion and began collecting signatures from INDIA bloc partners.
The Trinamool Congress, however, has distanced itself from this approach. The party has stated that a no-confidence motion should be treated as a last step rather than the first course of action. The TMC has maintained that a formal appeal should first be made to the Speaker, allowing him an opportunity to respond to the opposition’s concerns.
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said the party had advised the Congress to submit a collective appeal from the INDIA bloc to Speaker Om Birla. He said the TMC had proposed giving the Speaker three days to respond to the opposition’s appeal.
According to Banerjee, if the Congress submits the appeal immediately, the TMC will not sign the no-confidence notice. He added that if the Speaker does not agree to the opposition’s demands within three days, the TMC would be prepared to sign the no-confidence motion. He said the party was not opposing the proposal in principle but differed on its timing and procedure.
In contrast to the TMC’s position, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and several other opposition parties have backed the Congress. Sources said that barring the TMC, nearly all opposition MPs in the INDIA bloc have signed the no-confidence notice against Speaker Om Birla.
Sources said opposition leaders K Suresh and Mohammad Javed may soon submit the notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General, indicating that the Congress and its allies intend to take the matter to a decisive stage within Parliament.
The issue centres on the opposition’s claim that Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. The opposition has alleged that during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, Gandhi was deliberately prevented from speaking.
Opposition parties have said Rahul Gandhi wanted to raise the issue of the 2020 India-China standoff and refer to an unpublished memoir by former Army chief General M M Naravane. They said permission to do so was not granted by the Speaker, which they described as contrary to democratic norms.
Opposition parties have also said they were informed that a decision on whether Rahul Gandhi would be allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha would be taken by 12:30 pm. They said the notice seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla would be formally submitted only after clarity on this decision.
Disruptions have continued in the Lok Sabha since February 2, with opposition MPs staging protests on various issues. The opposition has maintained that its leaders are being prevented from speaking in the House.
The opposition has also cited the refusal to allow Rahul Gandhi to quote from General Naravane’s unpublished writing as part of the dispute. Opposition parties have alleged that the ruling side is using the Speaker to control proceedings in order to avoid uncomfortable questions.
