New Delhi (IANS): The Opposition’s attempt to move a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla hit a major procedural snag on Tuesday. In what is being viewed as a significant embarrassment for the Congress-led INDIA bloc, the initial notice was found to contain a recurring technical error, forcing the parties to resubmit the document with corrections.
The 2025 vs. 2026 Gaffe
The primary error involved the date: the notice repeatedly mentioned the year 2025 instead of the current year, 2026. Procedural requirements for such a constitutional motion mandate that all details, particularly dates and factual references, must be entirely accurate.
This lapse follows a similar incident where a motion against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was reportedly rejected due to a spelling error in his surname, fueling criticism over the Opposition’s procedural diligence.
Motion Details and Signatories
Despite the initial setback, the corrected notice was formally resubmitted by Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi at 1:14 p.m. under Rule 94C of the Rules of Procedure and Article 94(c) of the Constitution.
- Signatories: The notice carries the signatures of 118 Members of Parliament.
- Supporting Parties: The motion is backed by the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
- TMC Stance: Notably, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has not signed the notice. Party leader Abhishek Banerjee suggested a more “calibrated” approach, proposing a formal letter of grievance to the Speaker before resorting to the “last option” of a no-confidence motion.
Core Grievances
The Opposition maintains that the motion is a response to “blatantly partisan” conduct by the Speaker. Key complaints include:
- Denial of Speaking Time: Specifically cited is the alleged silencing of LoP Rahul Gandhi during the Motion of Thanks.
- Arbitrary Suspensions: The suspension of eight Opposition MPs for the remainder of the Budget Session.
- Double Standards: Alleged failure to act against BJP members for personalized attacks while penalizing Opposition members for raising issues of public concern.
While the motion is viewed as largely symbolic due to the government’s numerical majority, its resubmission ensures the technical grounds are met for the Lok Sabha Secretariat to examine its admissibility.
