Birla’s Moral Stand
Sources close to the development revealed that while there is no constitutional provision mandating the Speaker to step down merely upon the submission of a no-confidence notice, Birla has chosen to recuse himself from the Chair on moral grounds."He has decided that he will not occupy the Lok Sabha Speaker's chair until the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition is taken up and resolved," a source stated. The Speaker has also directed Lok Sabha Secretary-General Utpal Kumar Singh to examine the notice and initiate the necessary procedural actions.
Allegations of 'Blatantly Partisan' Conduct
The motion, signed by 118 Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc, invokes Article 94(c) of the Constitution. It was formally submitted to the Secretary-General by Congress leaders K Suresh, Gaurav Gogoi, and Md Javed, representing a coalition that includes the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, and others.The notice levels serious charges against the Chair, accusing Birla of conducting House business in a "blatantly partisan manner." The primary grievance centers on the alleged denial of speaking rights to opposition leaders, specifically citing the interruption of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.
"At 1:14 pm today, we submitted a motion for a no-confidence motion against the Speaker under rule 94C rules and procedures," confirmed Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.
The opposition's frustration stems from incidents earlier this week, including the refusal to allow Gandhi to quote from an unpublished memoir regarding the India-China standoff and the recent suspension of eight opposition MPs. The notice contrasts these actions with an alleged lack of disciplinary measures against treasury bench members for similar disruptions.
Institutional Propriety and Strategic Moves
Notably, Rahul Gandhi did not sign the notice himself. Party insiders suggest this was a calculated move to maintain "institutional propriety," keeping the Leader of the Opposition distinct from the direct procedural attack on the Speaker's office.While the Congress led the charge, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) offered a nuanced stance. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee indicated that while his party stands with the opposition's sentiment, they had preferred sending a formal letter of protest before escalating to a removal motion.
What Happens Next?
The immediate impact of this motion is a procedural deep-freeze. With the first half of the Budget Session set to conclude on February 13, 2026, the motion is unlikely to be debated immediately. Under Lok Sabha rules, a 14-day notice period is mandatory.Parliamentary experts suggest the discussion will likely be scheduled for the second half of the session, potentially around March 9, when the House reconvenes. Until then, the Deputy Speaker or a member of the panel of chairpersons is expected to preside over the remaining days of this session leg.
The ruling NDA has dismissed the move as a "political stunt," with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju citing opposition disruptions as the root cause of the House's dysfunction. However, Birla’s decision to step aside has added a layer of gravity to the situation, ensuring the standoff will dominate the political narrative well into the recess.