Key Highlights of the Removal Motion
- Formal Notice: Submitted on February 10, 2026, by over 118 MPs from Congress, SP, DMK, and RJD.
- Core Grievances: Alleged bias in conducting House business and the recent suspension of eight Opposition MPs.
- Rahul Gandhi Controversy: Protests followed the Speaker’s refusal to allow the LoP to quote from a former Army Chief’s memoir.
- Constitutional Rule: Under Article 94(c), a 14,day mandatory notice period is required before a vote.
- Numerical Reality: With 293 seats, the NDA holds a comfortable majority over the INDIA bloc’s 234, making the removal unlikely.
The political atmosphere in New Delhi has reached a boiling point as the Opposition, led by the Congress party, moved a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This extraordinary step comes amid claims that the Chair has acted in a “blatantly partisan” manner. The notice, submitted to the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, specifically highlights the repeated interruptions of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the suspension of eight Opposition members for their protests in the Well of the House.
In a move citing moral propriety, Speaker Om Birla has decided to step aside from presiding over the proceedings until the notice is settled. The Lok Sabha Secretary General, Utpal Kumar Singh, is currently scrutinizing the document to ensure it meets the strict admissibility criteria required by parliamentary rules.
The “Blot on Democracy” Controversy
The primary catalyst for this motion was a heated exchange regarding national security. On February 2, 2026, Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote excerpts from an article discussing former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir, specifically focusing on the 2020 India,China standoff.
The Chair barred the quotation, citing Rule 349 and the lack of authentication for “unpublished literature.” This led to a walkout and a scathing letter from Gandhi to the Speaker, in which he described the silencing of the Leader of the Opposition as a “blot on democracy.” The subsequent suspension of eight MPs, including Manickam Tagore and Hibi Eden, for “creating ruckus” served as the final trigger for the removal motion.
The Constitutional Road to Removal
Removing a Speaker is a rigorous and rare process governed by Article 94(c) and Article 96 of the Constitution:
- The 14-Day Rule: A written notice of intention to move the resolution must be given at least 14 days in advance.
- Admissibility: The notice must contain specific, clearly defined charges without ironic or defamatory language.
- The Leave of the House: After the notice period, the resolution is entered into the List of Business. For it to proceed to a discussion, at least 50 MPs must rise in support of the motion.
- Effective Majority: Unlike standard bills that require a majority of those “present and voting,” the Speaker can only be removed by a majority of “all the then members” of the House (the effective strength).
Historical Precedents and Current Math
The history of Indian democracy suggests that such motions are largely symbolic. While Speakers like G.V. Mavalankar (1954) and Balram Jakhar (1987) faced similar challenges, no Speaker has ever been successfully removed through a vote.
The current statistics reinforce this trend. In the 543-member House (with one seat vacant), the magic number for removal is 272. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) maintains a solid front with 293 MPs, while the INDIA bloc holds approximately 234. Furthermore, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has notably refrained from signing the current notice, suggesting internal debate within the Opposition on the best tactical approach.
Ultimately, while the motion is unlikely to result in Om Birla’s exit, it serves as a potent political tool to pressure the Treasury benches and highlight the Opposition’s grievances before the public during a crucial Budget Session.
