Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 15: The debate and voting on the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be taken up on March 9 when the House reconvenes after recess, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Sunday.
Rijiju said the second part of the Budget Session, scheduled from March 9 to April 2, would be “interesting” as several important legislations, including a “critical” bill, are slated to be introduced and passed in Parliament.
“On March 9 in the Lok Sabha, we will have the debate on the no-confidence motion moved against the speaker. It is the rule to take it up on the first day. There will be a vote following the debate,” he said.
The Budget Session commenced with the President’s address to a joint sitting of Parliament on January 28 and went into recess on February 12. The Union Budget 2026 was presented on February 1.
Rijiju, who is visiting his Lok Sabha constituency Arunachal West, said that during the second phase of the session, discussions would be held on the demands for grants of five ministries in the Lok Sabha, while the Rajya Sabha would deliberate on the functioning of five other ministries.
“If the opposition doesn’t allow the House to function, we will go for the guillotine. It will be a loss for them,” he said, cautioning that continued disruptions like those witnessed in the first phase would ultimately hurt the Opposition.
He also indicated that the session would coincide with upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry, adding to its political significance.
On being asked whether a bill on simultaneous elections would be introduced, Rijiju said no decision had been taken yet as the Parliamentary committee examining the proposal has not finalised its report.
Hinting at differences within the Opposition, he noted that the Trinamool Congress did not sign the no-confidence motion against the Speaker and claimed that several smaller parties are not in favour of stalling proceedings, especially ahead of state elections.
The first part of the session witnessed repeated disruptions following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being disallowed from quoting excerpts from former Army chief M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir on the 2020 India-China conflict. On February 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unable to reply to the Motion of Thanks debate due to protests.
In an unprecedented development, the Motion of Thanks was passed by voice vote without the Prime Minister’s customary reply amid sloganeering. Eight Opposition MPs were later suspended for the remainder of the session over unruly conduct.
Last week, Birla stepped aside from presiding over the House after the Opposition submitted a motion seeking his removal, alleging that he had acted in a “blatantly partisan” manner.