Opposition mulling notice to seek removal of Lok Sabha Speaker

NEW DELHI: The opposition is seriously mulling a notice to seek the removal of Speaker Om Birla as the Chair of Lok Sabha, with leaders of India bloc discussing the issue on Monday - a move that may further embitter the fraught relations between the governing camp and the opposition.

Sources said a notice floated during the day has collected signatures of over 100 MPs. The Speaker can be removed by a resolution passed by the LS under Article 94(c) of the Constitution, and the resolution requires a 14-day notice.



Sources said another meeting of the opposition parties has been called on Tuesday morning to take a final view on the matter, especially about the timing.

Unfazed, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju made light of the opposition's plan, saying it lacks the numbers to carry the resolution.

A possible resolution to the extreme step could be the Speaker's view on the opposition's demands Tuesday. Rahul along with T R Baalu, Akhilesh Yadav and Abhishek Banerjee met Birla after the House was adjourned prematurely amid protests Monday. The opposition grievances include lack of action against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his remarks, suspension of opposition members, and claim that women MPs posed a threat to the PM.

As the India bloc partners gathered to discuss the strategy for Parliament in the wake of logjam in LS over repeated refusal of permission to speak to LoP Rahul Gandhi, sources said a senior Congress neta proposed a "no confidence" resolution against the Speaker.

It elicited a nod from the gathering. However, TMC MP Shatabdi Roy reportedly said she would have to consult party supremo Mamata Banerjee before a reply. It was also proposed by TMC that the Speaker be first given a letter listing the grievances. However, "it did not say no to the proposal once it was accepted", a opposition neta pointed out. The meeting was attended by Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Ramgopal Yadav and Dharmendra Yadav (SP), John Brittas (CPM), N K Premachandran (RSP), T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), K C Venugopal, Kodikunnil Suresh and Manickam Tagore (Congress), Mian Altaf (National Conference). NCP was not present.

Sources said the notice with over 100 signatures was still to be signed by Trinamool and SP till the evening.

It may be noted that the opposition discussed a no-confidence against then Chairman of RS Jagdeep Dhankhar for many months, but the issue came to fruition much later.

Sources said while the matter was intensely discussed in the morning, a possible resolution was not ruled out. However, after Rahul was refused permission to speak at 12pm, a quick consultation among opposition parties ensued which reinforced the plan.
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