India

No-Confidence Motion Against Speaker Om Birla Defeated As Lok Sabha Decides By Voice Vote

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday defeated a no-confidence motion against Om Birla through a voice vote after an extensive debate lasting more than 13 hours.

Opposition members had accused the Speaker of displaying partisan conduct and bias during parliamentary proceedings.

Jagdambika Pal, who chaired the session, conducted the voice vote amid considerable disorder in the House.

Opposition lawmakers created an uproar during the concluding phase of the debate while reacting to remarks made by Amit Shah.

Members from opposition benches raised slogans and protested strongly, apparently angered by Shah’s pointed criticism of Rahul Gandhi during his reply.

Despite the turbulence, the House proceeded with the vote, which ultimately rejected the motion.

Political observers described the outcome as a setback for the Opposition, as the debate shifted attention towards its own procedural lapses rather than allegations against the Speaker.

During his address, Shah emphasised the constitutional sanctity of the Speaker’s office.

He stated that the authority and rulings of the Speaker hold a special status within parliamentary functioning.

The Home Minister also recalled past instances when opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Communist Party of India, had introduced similar motions during Congress-led administrations.

Shah highlighted that in earlier cases, the Speaker continued to preside over proceedings.

However, Birla stepped aside from the Chair during the debate, establishing a new parliamentary precedent.

The motion had been introduced by Mohammad Jawed and carried the signatures of 118 opposition MPs who alleged partiality by the Speaker.

The debate began a day earlier with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi initiating the discussion.

Kiren Rijiju responded by defending Birla’s conduct and describing his approach as fair and balanced.

Also Read:HM Amit Shah Questions Rahul Gandhi’s Commitment To Parliament, Cites Low Attendance

Pragati Upadhyay

I report stories and occasionally rescue facts from chaos. By profession, I’m a journalist; by conviction, a social worker who believes words should move people, not just headlines. I question power, celebrate ordinary heroes, and sometimes irritate the comfortable. If truth had a shift, I’d probably be working overtime.