TMC Backs No-Confidence Motion Against Speaker Om Birla

March 7, 2026

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has decided to support the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, marking a notable shift in its earlier position. The party has now instructed its Members of Parliament to back the motion when it is taken up during the second phase of the Budget Session.

The move aligns the TMC with other opposition parties in the INDIA bloc, which have accused the Speaker of acting in a partisan manner and allegedly restricting the opposition’s ability to raise issues in the House.

The motion is expected to be considered when Parliament reconvenes, potentially triggering a major political confrontation between the ruling coalition and opposition parties.

Why the opposition moved the motion

The no-confidence motion against the Speaker was initiated by opposition parties led by the Indian National Congress, which accused Birla of bias in conducting parliamentary proceedings.

Opposition leaders claim that key members, including Rahul Gandhi, were not allowed to speak on important national issues in the Lok Sabha. They also alleged that the Speaker permitted ruling party members to make remarks while limiting opposition participation during debates.

These accusations intensified tensions in Parliament during earlier phases of the Budget Session, leading opposition leaders to submit a notice for a resolution seeking Birla’s removal from the post.

Earlier hesitation by TMC

Initially, the TMC had not signed the notice for the no-confidence motion, distancing itself from the opposition’s immediate push against the Speaker.

Party leaders had said they wanted to give the Speaker time to address the concerns raised by opposition parties before supporting such a drastic parliamentary step.

Senior TMC leaders argued that their approach was “constructive and calibrated,” stressing respect for parliamentary institutions while leaving open the possibility of backing the motion if issues remained unresolved.

Party now instructs MPs to support the motion

However, ahead of the upcoming parliamentary proceedings, the TMC leadership has now decided that its MPs should support the no-confidence resolution against Birla.

Party sources indicated that the decision was taken after discussions with other INDIA bloc partners and in view of continuing concerns about the conduct of the Speaker during parliamentary debates.

TMC leaders also emphasised that their earlier hesitation was not opposition to the motion itself but rather an attempt to avoid rushing into the move. According to party sources, the leadership had always been open to supporting the resolution once sufficient time had been given for dialogue.

Numbers game and political implications

The notice for the motion was submitted with signatures from over 100 opposition MPs, which is the minimum requirement to move such a resolution in the Lok Sabha.

With the TMC now backing the move, opposition parties are hoping to strengthen their collective stance against the government during the Budget Session. However, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies still hold a numerical advantage in the Lok Sabha, making the success of the motion unlikely.

Nevertheless, the motion is expected to spark intense debate over parliamentary functioning and the role of the Speaker in maintaining neutrality.

Rare move in parliamentary politics

A no-confidence motion against a Lok Sabha Speaker is a rare and serious parliamentary step, as the Speaker is expected to function impartially once elected to the position.

Even if the motion does not succeed, political observers believe it highlights the deepening divide between the government and opposition ahead of upcoming political contests and legislative battles.

The upcoming session of Parliament is therefore likely to witness heated exchanges as the opposition presses its allegations and the government defends the Speaker’s conduct.