Next Monday, the Lok Sabha may consider a motion to remove the Speaker; the BJP proposes a whip

In light of rumors that a notice requesting Speaker Om Birla’s dismissal may be discussed, the BJP has written a whip to all of its Lok Sabha MPs requesting them to stay in Parliament on March 9 and 10. Some extremely “important legislative business” would be addressed, according to the directive.

“All members of the BJP in Lok Sabha are therefore requested to be positively present in the House on both the days and support the government’s stand,” the BJP directive said.

The opposition accused the Speaker of the Lok Sabha of functioning in a partisan manner and filed a no-confidence notice last month calling for his ouster. 118 MPs signed it. On March 9, when Parliament convenes for the second part of the Budget session, the notice is probably going to be discussed.

Until the proposal is discussed and decided, Birla is unlikely to chair the Lok Sabha proceedings. The day the notification was filed in February, the Kota MP really ceased to chair the proceedings. He will be seated among the MPs in the House on Monday, a rare occasion, according to PTI. When the notice is discussed, Birla will have the chance to defend himself in accordance with House procedures.

The Congress accused the Speaker of preventing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi from speaking in the House, causing chaos in the Lok Sabha during the first part of the Budget session. Political tensions only increased after eight Congress MPs were suspended.

The opposition had every right to file such a motion, according to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh. “These are democratic instruments, instruments of parliamentary democracy. The opposition has every right. We will have a debate, let’s see what happens after that,” Ramesh told PTI.

“We had given specific instances of partisan behaviour (by the Speaker), while false allegations were levelled against the opposition members,” he further said.