New Delhi: The Lok Sabha will take up the debate and vote on the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla on March 9, the first day of the second part of the Budget Session, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, warning that continued disruptions by opposition parties would hurt them politically.
Rijiju said the resumed session from March 9 to April 2 would be “interesting” as the government plans to introduce several important legislations, including a “critical” bill whose details were not disclosed. He added that if protests persist as in the first phase, the government may resort to the guillotine to clear demands for grants without debate.
“The rule is to take up such motions on the first day. There will be a debate in the Lok Sabha on March 9 followed by a vote,” he told news agency, adding that absence of opposition in discussions would be “their loss.”
The Budget Session began with the President’s address on January 28 and went into recess on February 12 after presentation of the Union Budget 2026 on February 1.
During the second phase, the government plans structured discussions on ministries — demands for grants of five ministries in the Lok Sabha and functioning of five others in the Rajya Sabha. Rijiju said selection of ministries for debate in both Houses is being finalised.
He indicated emerging opposition rifts, noting the Trinamool Congress did not sign the motion against the Speaker and several smaller parties prefer raising constituency issues ahead of Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.
The first phase of the session saw repeated disruptions from February 2 after Rahul Gandhi was disallowed from quoting an unpublished memoir of former Army chief M M Naravane on the 2020 India–China conflict. Protests also prevented Prime Minister Narendra Modi from replying to the Motion of Thanks, which was later passed without his speech amid sloganeering.
Eight opposition MPs were subsequently suspended for the remainder of the session. The controversy intensified after Birla stepped aside as presiding officer hours after the opposition moved a removal motion alleging partisan conduct, a charge denied by the Speaker’s office. (Agencies)
