Showdown in Lok Sabha as Opposition seeks Speaker Om Birla’s removal

The standoff between the government and the Opposition in the Lok Sabha intensified on Monday, with the Opposition bloc deciding to move a formal resolution to remove Speaker Om Birla from office, accusing him of functioning in a partisan manner and systematically denying Opposition members the right to speak in the House.

The immediate trigger for the move was the repeated disallowing of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi from participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. Senior Congress leader K C Venugopal alleged that the Lower House has increasingly become one sided, where treasury bench members are allowed to speak freely while Opposition voices are frequently curtailed or interrupted. “There is no space for the Opposition in this House ,” he said, adding earlier that the Opposition would act at the appropriate time and asking reporters to “wait for action.”

The proposed resolution will be moved under Article 94 of the Constitution , which provides for the removal of the Speaker through a vote of the House. As per procedure, a written notice must be submitted at least 14 days in advance , and the motion requires the support of a majority of all members of the Lok Sabha to pass. During the debate, the Speaker does not preside and the Chair is taken over by the Deputy Speaker or another member, making it one of the most serious constitutional steps available to MPs.

Apart from restricting Rahul Gandhi from speaking, the Opposition plans to cite several other grievances. These include the Speaker’s alleged failure to initiate action against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey , who had sparked protests in the House after making sharp and personal remarks targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family and Congress leadership, and displaying books and excerpts critical of the Nehru-Gandhi family, highlighting alleged misdeeds and policy failures , which the Opposition said went beyond parliamentary norms. They also point to what they describe as unsubstantiated allegations against Congress women MPs , and a broader pattern of suspensions and procedural decisions that weaken dissent. Opposition leaders argue that such actions undermine parliamentary norms and the democratic spirit of debate.

The decision was taken at a meeting of floor leaders in Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber , attended by parties including the TMC, DMK, Left parties, Samajwadi Party, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), signalling rare unity across the anti BJP spectrum. Signatures are being gathered, as the notice requires the backing of at least 100 MPs to be admitted.

With trust between both sides eroding and the Opposition preparing a constitutional challenge, the coming days are likely to witness an intense political and procedural confrontation inside the House.