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Trinamool Congress to support no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker: party source

March 07, 2026 5 min read Polity & Governance GS2 (Indian Constitution Parliament Governance)
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What Happened

  • As Parliament began the second phase of the Budget Session on March 9, 2026, Lok Sabha listed a notice by the Opposition to move a resolution to remove Speaker Om Birla.
  • 118 Members of Parliament signed the no-confidence motion, accusing Birla of partisan conduct — including disallowing Opposition leaders to speak, suspending Opposition MPs for entire sessions, and making unwarranted allegations against women MPs.
  • The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), initially non-committal, announced it would direct its MPs to support the motion following a direction from party chief Mamata Banerjee.
  • Both the ruling BJP and Congress issued three-line whips directing their Lok Sabha MPs to be present from March 9 to March 11.
  • Debate and vote on the resolution is scheduled for March 9, 2026.
  • The motion requires 50 members to stand in support for it to be admitted; to succeed in removal it requires a majority of all then-members of Lok Sabha.

Static Topic Bridges

Article 94(c) — Removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker

Article 94 of the Constitution governs how the Speaker and Deputy Speaker vacate, resign from, or are removed from office. Article 94(c) specifically provides for removal by a resolution of the Lok Sabha.

  • Article 94(c): The Speaker may be removed from office by a resolution of the House of the People passed by a majority of all the then members of the House.
  • "Majority of all then members" is an effective majority — total membership minus vacancies; it is not a simple majority of those present and voting.
  • A minimum of 14 days' written notice must be given to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha before the resolution can be moved.
  • At least 50 members must stand when called by the Chair to admit the notice; if fewer than 50 stand, the resolution cannot be moved.
  • During proceedings on the resolution, the Speaker cannot preside over the House — another member (typically the Deputy Speaker or a Panel of Chairs member) presides instead.
  • The Speaker has the right to be present, speak in their defence, and vote in the first instance as an ordinary member; however, they cannot exercise a casting vote.
  • The notice was first given during the Winter Session of Parliament (Budget Session Phase 1, February 2026) — satisfying the 14-day requirement before Phase 2 began March 9.

Connection to this news: The Opposition notice against Om Birla follows precisely this constitutional procedure — a written notice with 50+ signatories, a 14-day cooling period, and scheduled debate on March 9 during the Budget Session's second phase.

Article 94 vs. Article 67(b) — Speaker vs. Vice President (Rajya Sabha Chairman) Removal

The removal procedures for the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman (Vice President) differ significantly in constitutional design.

  • Article 67(b): The Vice President (ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha) may be removed by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all its then members and agreed to by the House of the People (simple majority suffices for the Lok Sabha's agreement).
  • Article 94(c): The Speaker is removed only by a resolution of the Lok Sabha — the Rajya Sabha has no role.
  • For the Rajya Sabha Chairman, the resolution originates in the Rajya Sabha; for the Speaker, it originates in the Lok Sabha.
  • Article 67(b) also requires 14 days' notice before moving the resolution.
  • The Vice President's removal therefore requires bicameral concurrence; the Speaker's removal is entirely within the Lok Sabha's domain.

Connection to this news: The motion against Om Birla is a purely Lok Sabha affair. The Rajya Sabha has no constitutional role, unlike in the case of the Vice President's removal. This underscores the self-contained authority of the Lok Sabha over its own presiding officer.

Precedents and Historical Context — No Speaker Has Ever Been Removed

The constitutional provision in Article 94(c) has been invoked only three times in independent India's parliamentary history, and none has succeeded.

  • 1954: Motion moved against Speaker G.V. Mavalankar — not admitted.
  • 1966: Motion moved against Speaker Hukam Singh — did not proceed.
  • 1987: Motion moved against Speaker Bal Ram Jakhar — did not succeed.
  • No Lok Sabha Speaker has ever been removed through this constitutional process since independence.
  • The Speaker's position is constitutionally protected from easy removal precisely to ensure parliamentary independence; the majority threshold (all then members) is deliberately high.
  • Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure governs the procedure for moving the notice.

Connection to this news: The 2026 motion marks the fourth time the process has been invoked. The high threshold (effective majority of all members) makes success unlikely given the BJP's numerical strength, but the constitutional process itself serves as a check on partisan conduct by the Speaker.

Role and Immunities of the Lok Sabha Speaker

The Speaker is the constitutional head of the Lok Sabha and exercises wide powers over parliamentary proceedings. These powers are legally insulated from judicial review in most circumstances.

  • Articles 93–97 of the Constitution govern the election, removal, and powers of the Speaker.
  • Article 105(2): No Member of Parliament can be held liable in any court for anything said or voted in Parliament — this immunity extends to the Speaker's rulings within the House.
  • Article 122: Courts cannot inquire into proceedings of Parliament — a Speaker's procedural decisions during sessions are not subject to judicial challenge.
  • The Speaker controls admission of bills, recognition of the Leader of the Opposition, suspension of members, and certification of Money Bills under Article 110.
  • The Speaker is also the authority for deciding disqualification petitions under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) — a power frequently criticised for enabling partisan decisions.

Connection to this news: The Opposition's allegations centre on the Speaker's conduct of proceedings — but because of Articles 105 and 122, courts cannot interfere. The no-confidence route under Article 94(c) is thus the only constitutional remedy for parliamentary misconduct by the Speaker.

Key Facts & Data

  • Article 94(c): Removal of Speaker by effective majority of all then-members of Lok Sabha.
  • 14 days' prior written notice mandatory before moving the resolution.
  • 50 members must stand in support for the notice to be admitted.
  • Article 67(b): Vice President removal — requires Rajya Sabha resolution + Lok Sabha agreement.
  • Historical precedents: 1954 (Mavalankar), 1966 (Hukam Singh), 1987 (Bal Ram Jakhar) — none succeeded.
  • 118 MPs signed the 2026 motion against Speaker Om Birla.
  • TMC announced support on March 7, 2026, following party direction from Mamata Banerjee.
  • Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure governs the removal notice process.
  • Three-line whips issued by BJP and Congress for March 9–11, 2026.
  • Lok Sabha total strength: 543 seats; effective majority requires majority of all then-members (excluding vacancies).