In a major escalation of parliamentary tensions, the Opposition formally submitted a notice on Tuesday to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, citing a complete breakdown of trust. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi confirmed that the motion, filed under Article 94C of the Constitution with signatures from around 119 MPs, was submitted to the Secretary-General at 1:14 pm.
The move stems from persistent allegations that Birla favours the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party by restricting speaking time for opposition leaders — particularly Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi — while allowing ruling party members to criticise opposition leaders without reprimand.
The notice highlights three specific grievances, starting with last week’s uproar when Birla denied Rahul Gandhi permission to read from former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s memoir concerning the Ladakh border stand-off. Conversely, the motion questions why BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was permitted to read material targeting the Gandhi family, despite a presiding officer having asked him to sit down.
Additionally, the opposition is taking aim at Birla’s controversial claim that he advised Prime Minister Modi to skip his speech because women MPs from the Congress were supposedly planning to confront him near his seat. While Article 94C requires a 14-day notice period, parliamentary sources suggest the motion is unlikely to be tabled before the current session ends on February 13, pushing the showdown to the next meeting on March 9.
This dramatic step follows a letter sent to Birla by women MPs of the BJP, who are asking for the "strictest possible action” against Opposition members following a chaotic ruckus in the house on February 4, 2026. The letter apparently alleges that opposition MPs have violated a rule by going into the well of the House and sitting on the table belonging to the Speaker, thereby enhancing the divide between the treasury benches and the opposition.
Also read: BJP women MPs write to Speaker, express 'faith'
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