Opposition parties submitted a no-confidence notice on Tuesday to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from his post. Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, said they submitted the notice under Article 94-C of the Constitution to the Lok Sabha Secretary General.

Around 120 MPs from the Congress, DMK and Samajwadi Party signed the notice. However, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs did not sign it. Their decision showed clear differences within the opposition over strategy in Parliament.

TMC Suggests Different Approach

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee explained his party’s stand. He said they wanted to try another step before moving the motion.

“Even yesterday we made it clear that all the TMC MPs will sign the no-confidence motion resolution, but our suggestion to them was that the issues, including suspension of MPs, LoP not being allowed to speak, women MPs being falsely accused and that the Chair is working in the biased manner… We said that firstly, we should write a letter in the form of a protest to the Speaker and the signatures of all opposition MPs should be there and we should give the Speaker 2-3 days’ time. If the Speaker does not take any action to it, then we always have the room to move no confidence motion, we have not problem," he said.

This statement shows that the TMC wanted to give the Speaker time to respond before taking strong action.

Opposition Lists Its Complaints

Congress MP K C Venugopal raised serious concerns. He said the Speaker does not allow Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other leaders to speak freely in the Lok Sabha. He claimed the government side speaks without restrictions and even makes “derogatory remarks" against opposition members.

Tension During Motion of Thanks Debate

Tensions rose in the Lok Sabha last week. The House passed the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address without the Prime Minister’s usual reply. Continuous sloganeering by opposition MPs disrupted the session.

Speaker Om Birla said he had “concrete information" that some Congress members might move towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seat and carry out “some unexpected act". Because of this, he asked the Prime Minister not to attend the House for the reply.

When the House met again after three adjournments, Birla said such an incident would have left democratic traditions in “shreds".

Congress Rejects the Claims

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra strongly denied the allegation. She told reporters in the Parliament complex that it was an “absolute lie" that there was any plan to harm Modi. She also accused the Prime Minister of “hiding behind" the Speaker.

The no-confidence notice has increased political tension. It has also exposed differences within the opposition camp over how to act in Parliament.