TMC Leader Outlines Conditions for Supporting No-Confidence Motion Against Lok Sabha Speaker
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee declared on Tuesday that his party stands ready to endorse a no-confidence motion targeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. However, he emphasized that opposition parties must first formally present their grievances to the Speaker before proceeding with such a drastic parliamentary measure.
Formal Appeal Must Precede Motion
Speaking to journalists within the Parliament House complex, Banerjee clarified the All India Trinamool Congress's position. "The All India Trinamool Congress has no problem signing the no-confidence motion against the Speaker. All 28 MPs will sign it," he affirmed. "However, before moving the no-confidence motion, we want all the INDIA bloc partners to sign a letter addressed to the Speaker, highlighting the four points on which the argument is based."
Banerjee stressed the importance of due process, arguing that the Speaker deserves an opportunity to address the opposition's concerns directly. He specifically cited the recent suspension of eight Congress MPs as a primary issue requiring resolution.
Proposed Timeline for Action
The TMC leader proposed a structured approach to the escalating parliamentary tension:
- The opposition should collectively submit a formal letter detailing their specific grievances to Speaker Om Birla.
- The Speaker should be granted a reasonable period of two to three days to consider the appeal and formulate a response.
- Only if the Speaker fails to act or provides unsatisfactory answers should the opposition proceed with introducing a formal no-confidence motion.
"If the Speaker does not act or fails to provide satisfactory responses to the four issues, a no-confidence motion can be introduced after three days," Banerjee stated, outlining this conditional timeline.
Opposition Notice and TMC's Strategic Distance
Earlier on Tuesday, opposition parties including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and the DMK submitted a formal notice to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh. This notice, delivered through Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh, and Mohamed Jawed, accuses Speaker Birla of "blatantly partisan" conduct and making "blatantly false" allegations against Congress MPs.
Notably, the Trinamool Congress chose not to be a signatory to this initial move, as reported by PTI. This strategic decision underscores Banerjee's insistence on following a specific procedural sequence before committing to the more severe step of a no-confidence motion.
Broader Concerns Over Parliamentary Functioning
Banerjee expressed broader frustration with the ongoing disruptions in Parliament. "We want the House to function properly, but it appears the Union government does not," he remarked, adding that the Speaker also bears significant responsibility for ensuring smooth and orderly proceedings. He questioned the rationale behind repeated adjournments, suggesting they hinder legislative productivity.
According to parliamentary sources, the notice against the Speaker has garnered support from approximately 120 MPs across several opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (SP). The TMC's potential addition of its 28 MPs could significantly bolster this effort, but only after Banerjee's stipulated conditions are met.
The development highlights the ongoing tensions within the Lok Sabha and the opposition's coordinated strategy to challenge what they perceive as partisan conduct from the chair. The coming days will reveal whether the opposition unites behind a formal appeal to the Speaker or moves directly toward a historic no-confidence motion against a sitting Lok Sabha Speaker.
