The Narendra Modi-led government will face a vote on no-confidence for the first time, on Friday. However, this will not affect the stability of the government as the BJP alone has more than the required numbers to defeat the motion.
“The House will take up the debate (on the motion) on Friday, July 20. The discussion will be held for the full day, followed by voting on it,” said Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday, giving her ruling on notices submitted by members from the Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Trinamool Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal, besides others.
The presiding officer accepted the notice submitted by TDP MP K Srinivas, as his was the first to be submitted in the office of the Lok Sabha Secretary General.
Though some TMC members, supported by the Congress, wanted the debate and voting to be shifted to Monday as they have to be present in their constituencies for special events, the Speaker rejected their pleas and reiterated her decision. There will be no other business — Question Hour, Zero Hour or private member Bills — on Friday, the day of debate.
The debate will begin at 11 am and end with voting.
The BJP has 273 members on its own, more than the half-way mark of 272. Its allies comprise another 41, taking the total number to 314. At present, the Lok Sabha has 536 members while 9 seats are vacant.
The Opposition Congress welcomed the Speaker’s decision to admit the notice. Congress Working Committee member and MP KC Venugopal told reporters that the decision to move such a motion was taken on Monday, at the meeting of Opposition parties. He claimed the motion had the support of all the Opposition parties.
He said a number of issues would be taken up during the debate on Friday.
“This government cheated the farmers after offering to increase MSP. It has taken no action to stop the increasing violence against women. It delayed the Lokpal Bill to help the corrupt. The banking system is facing a huge credibility crisis. The GST brought no advantages to the economy. Demonetisation was a failure and there is no specific statistics on how much money has come back to the banks. All constitutional institutions are under threat from this government,” Venugopal said.