The Lok Sabha on Wednesday rejected a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla through a voice vote, following more than 13 hours of intense debate. The motion, introduced by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, accused the Speaker of “biased and partisan” conduct against the Opposition, but ultimately failed to secure enough support to pass.

The voting, overseen by officiating Speaker Jagdambika Pal, unfolded amid chaotic scenes in the House, with Opposition members protesting Home Minister Amit Shah’s responses to the motion. Lawmakers from opposition benches engaged in loud sloganeering and disrupted proceedings, expressing anger at Shah’s sharp rebuttals aimed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

During his address, Shah defended the sanctity of the Speaker’s office, emphasizing that rulings from the Chair are sacrosanct and beyond the reach of even the Supreme Court. He highlighted historical instances in which parties now allied with Congress, including the Samajwadi Party and Communist Party, had previously moved no-confidence motions against Speakers under Congress-led governments, contrasting their past conduct with the present scenario.

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Shah also underscored Om Birla’s departure from parliamentary norms during the debate, noting that unlike previous Speakers, Birla temporarily vacated the Chair until the motion was decided. The Home Minister further criticized Rahul Gandhi for frequent foreign trips during parliamentary sessions, questioning his absence from key discussions such as the Union Budget and the Women’s Reservation Bill.

The motion had attracted significant support within the Opposition, with 118 MPs signing it, alleging that Birla’s conduct lacked the impartiality expected of the Speaker. The debate, which began on Tuesday, saw Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi argue that the motion was intended to protect parliamentary dignity rather than target Birla personally. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju countered, defending Birla’s neutrality and balanced approach.

After a marathon session and sharp exchanges between ruling and opposition members, the no-confidence motion was ultimately defeated by a voice vote, reaffirming Om Birla’s position as Speaker and reinforcing the authority of the Chair in the House of Commons. The outcome is seen as a political setback for the Opposition, which struggled to translate its critique of the Speaker into a formal parliamentary victory.

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