Lok Sabha to take up opposition motion to remove Speaker Om Birla tomorrow

The Lok Sabha is set to take up on Monday a notice seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla , marking a rare and politically charged debate during the second phase of the Budget Session . The motion, moved by opposition MPs, accuses the Speaker of “blatantly partisan behaviour” while presiding over the House.

The notice has been submitted by Congress MPs Mohamed Jawed, K. Suresh and Mallu Ravi, and signed by 118 opposition MPs from several parties . Members of the All India Trinamool Congress initially did not back the motion, but sources now say the TMC has decided to support it .

Meanwhile, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Indian National Congress have issued three-line whips directing their MPs to be present in the House from March 9 to 11 , signalling the importance of the proceedings.

Under the rules of procedure , the motion will be taken up if at least 50 members stand in support of the notice when called by the Chair . If the threshold is met, the resolution will be admitted for debate and subsequently put to vote . If fewer than 50 members support the notice , the motion cannot be moved.

The proposed resolution alleges that Birla acted in a “blatantly partisan” manner , failing to maintain the impartiality expected of the Speaker. It claims he repeatedly disallowed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition MPs from speaking, particularly during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, and made “unwarranted allegations” against women MPs . A Congress leader said, “Such conduct undermines the principles of parliamentary democracy and cannot go unchallenged.”

If the motion is admitted, Birla will not preside over the proceedings and will sit among members on the treasury benches. Under the Constitution, he has the right to defend himself during the debate and can also vote on the resolution .

A Speaker can be removed from office if the Lok Sabha passes the resolution by a simple majority of members present and voting . Similar motions against former Speakers G. V. Mavalankar in 1954, Hukam Singh in 1966, and Balram Jakhar in 1987 were all defeated , highlighting the rarity of such proceedings.

The upcoming debate is expected to be closely watched across the political spectrum , with TMC support adding a new dimension to the opposition’s effort against the Speaker.