New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) The Lok Sabha on Wednesday defeated the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla following a charged debate during the ongoing Budget Session, with the resolution defeated by a voice vote amid loud protests and sloganeering from Opposition benches.
The motion was moved by Mohammad Jawed of the Indian National Congress and backed by more than 50 Opposition MPs, including members from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
The Opposition accused the Speaker of displaying “blatantly partisan” conduct and alleged that he had repeatedly allowed the treasury benches greater latitude while curbing Opposition interventions.
Moving the motion, Jawed argued that the authority of the Chair depended on impartiality. “The Speaker’s office is meant to be above party politics. When the Chair appears to favour one side, it erodes faith in the institution,” he told the House.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also criticised the functioning of the House, saying the Opposition’s concerns were frequently ignored. “The Speaker represents the entire House, not just the government. When Opposition voices are repeatedly silenced, the democratic spirit of Parliament suffers,” Gandhi said during the debate.
Treasury bench leaders strongly rejected the allegations and described the motion as politically motivated. union Home Minister Amit Shah said the move was aimed at disrupting parliamentary proceedings during an important session. “This motion is not about protecting democracy; it is about creating disorder in the House. The Speaker has conducted proceedings in accordance with parliamentary rules,” Shah said.
Several ruling coalition MPs echoed the sentiment, calling the resolution an “attack on parliamentary democracy” and accusing the Opposition of undermining the dignity of the Chair.
Following parliamentary convention, Birla recused himself from presiding over the House during the discussion on the motion. A member from the panel of chairpersons conducted the proceedings as members from both sides raised slogans and repeatedly interrupted each other, forcing the Chair to call for order several times.
After hours of debate and disruption, the motion was put to a voice vote and defeated, with treasury benches asserting that the House had reaffirmed its confidence in the Speaker.
The attempt is notable as motions seeking to remove a Lok Sabha Speaker are extremely rare in India’s parliamentary history. This is the first such move in nearly four decades. Earlier attempts in 1954, 1966 and 1987 also failed to secure the House’s approval.
The debate unfolded amid an already tense atmosphere during the Budget Session of Parliament, which has witnessed repeated confrontations between the government and the opposition over legislative priorities and procedural issues. Wednesday’s proceedings reflected the deepening political divisions in the House, with sharp exchanges and persistent disruptions marking much of the day’s discussion.
