Opposition’s no-trust motion against Speaker defeated in Lok Sabha amid uproar

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday rejected the opposition’s no-confidence motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, with the resolution defeated by a voice vote amid loud sloganeering and protests in the House.

Following the vote, proceedings were adjourned for the day, with the House set to reconvene on tomorrow at 11 am.

The motion had been brought by opposition parties, accusing the Speaker of failing to ensure impartial functioning of the House, an allegation strongly rejected by the government during a heated debate.

The Lok Sabha will reconvene tomorrow, when Speaker Om Birla will resume the chair. Birla will also make a statement in the House on the conduct of opposition members during the proceedings.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the opposition while responding to the debate, describing the resolution as a deeply regrettable step in parliamentary politics.

Shah said the Speaker serves as a neutral custodian of the House, representing both the ruling side and the opposition.

“According to the established history of this House, its proceedings are conducted based on mutual trust. The Speaker serves as a neutral custodian, representing both the ruling party and the opposition. It is unfortunate for parliamentary politics that a resolution for the removal of the Speaker has come,” he said.

Shah said such motions against the Lok Sabha Speaker have been extremely rare in India’s parliamentary history, adding that the current resolution came nearly four decades after the last such attempt.

He also pointed out that the BJP had spent long years in opposition but had never moved a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

“When the BJP was in the opposition, it never brought a no-confidence motion against the Speaker,” he said.