New Delhi : Members of Parliament from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) will support the proposed no-confidence motion against Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, following directions from party chairperson Mamata Banerjee.
The development comes ahead of the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament 2026, which is scheduled to begin on March 9. Three MPs from the Indian National Congress are expected to move a resolution seeking Birla’s removal, alleging that he prevented Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders from speaking in the House.
Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed, Kodikunnil Suresh and Mallu Ravi have accused Birla of acting in a partisan manner and making “unwarranted allegations” against women MPs from opposition parties.
They also alleged that opposition MPs were suspended for the entire parliamentary session for raising issues of public concern, while members of the ruling party were not reprimanded for making “derogatory” remarks about former Prime Ministers.
“Having taken into consideration the conduct of the Speaker of the House as regards disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition leaders to speak, making unwarranted allegations against women MPs belonging to the Opposition, suspending Opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern and not rebuking ruling party members for making wholly objectionable and derogatory remarks against former PMs, it is felt he has ceased to maintain the impartial attitude necessary to command the confidence of all sections of the House,” the Lok Sabha list of business stated.
The Congress MPs further alleged that Birla had “openly espoused the version of the ruling party on controversial matters,” warning that such conduct could undermine the proper functioning of the Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress have issued a three-line whip to their Lok Sabha MPs, directing them to remain present in the House from March 9 to 11.
During the first phase of the budget session, Congress had already moved a no-confidence motion against Om Birla, following which the Speaker announced he would refrain from presiding over the chair on moral grounds until the motion was decided.
The move came after a major uproar in Parliament when Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane regarding the 2020 standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. Subsequently, eight opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session for violating House rules.
The first phase of the budget session witnessed repeated adjournments amid persistent protests and disruptions in Parliament.