Tawang, Feb 15: The Lok Sabha debate and vote on the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla will occur on March 9, when the Budget Session resumes, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced Sunday from his Arunachal West constituency.
Rijiju described the session’s second part (March 9–April 2) as “interesting,” with key legislations and a “critical” bill slated for debate and passage. He cautioned that continued opposition protests, as seen earlier, would backfire: “If they don’t allow the House to function, we’ll go for the guillotine—it will be their loss.”
The motion, per rules, starts the session with debate followed by a vote. Rijiju noted ministry discussions: five for Lok Sabha demands for grants, five for Rajya Sabha working reviews. He teased upcoming assembly polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry as adding intrigue, plus “important bills” without specifics. A simultaneous elections bill remains undecided pending a parliamentary committee report.
Rijiju hinted at opposition cracks, noting Trinamool Congress skipped signing the motion. “Smaller parties want to raise issues ahead of polls, not stall the House.”
The Budget Session (Jan 28–Feb 12 recess) saw chaos from Feb 2 after Rahul Gandhi was barred from quoting ex-Army chief M.M. Naravane’s memoir on the 2020 India-China clash. PM Modi skipped the Motion of Thanks debate on Feb 4; it passed by voice vote Feb 5 amid protests. Birla cited intelligence of potential Congress “unexpected acts” near Modi’s seat. Eight opposition MPs were suspended; Birla later recused himself from presiding after the motion.
