New Delhi (Agency): Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA alliance are considering submitting a notice for a no-confidence motion against the government in Lok Sabha. The motion is an attempt to compel Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the ongoing Manipur violence during a parliamentary discussion.
Sources revealed that the proposal to present the no-confidence motion was discussed during a meeting of the constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) held on Tuesday morning. After weighing various options, the opposition parties concluded that this motion would be an effective way to pressure the government into initiating a discussion on the pressing issue.
The opposition’s strategy to corner the government and seek accountability for the situation in Manipur will also extend to the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to the possible motion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed confidence in the government’s strength. He reminded the opposition that the last time a no-confidence motion was brought, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returned to power with an even stronger majority of over 300 seats. Joshi confidently predicted a similar outcome this time, with the government potentially securing more than 350 seats.
The first no-confidence motion against the Modi government in the Lok Sabha occurred on July 20, 2018. During that event, the NDA secured a decisive victory with 325 MPs voting against the motion, while only 126 supported it. Despite the evident outcome due to the sheer number of MPs supporting the NDA, the debate provided an opportunity for the opposition to raise concerns about various issues, including farm distress, sluggish economic growth, and rising incidents of lynching.
The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Lok Sabha, specifically Rule 198, outline the procedure for moving a no-confidence motion. Any member of the Lok Sabha can propose such a motion by submitting a written notice before 10 am, which the speaker will read out in the House. A minimum of 50 members must accept the motion, and the speaker will then schedule a date for the motion’s discussion within ten days of its acceptance. Failure to adhere to the timeline results in the motion’s failure, and the member who proposed it will be informed accordingly. If the government fails to prove its majority during the motion’s discussion, it must resign.
The Lok Sabha currently comprises 543 seats, with five vacancies. The BJP-led NDA holds over 330 seats, while the INDIA alliance has over 140, and more than 60 members belong to parties unaffiliated with either group.
