Comments
On a day when the TDP pulled out of the NDA and submitted its own notice for a no-confidence motion against the government, both Houses of Parliament remained in pandemonium, with business being disrupted for the tenth straight day.
In the Lok Sabha, which was prematurely adjourned for the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the notices for moving no-confidence motions could be considered only if there is order in the House. Given that the main agenda of the second lap of Budget Session — to pass the Finance Bill — is over, there are chances that the House could be adjourned sine die without taking up the notices.
The Rules and Proceedings of Lok Sabha do not indicate a time-frame to consider the notices. Former Lok Sabha Secretary-General PDT Achary said a notice to move a no-confidence motion is admitted after placing it before the House.
“If 50 MPs who are present in the House support such a notice, it is valid to be considered as a motion by the House. There are several instances in the past when the government said it is ready to hold a debate on the motion then and there. The Speaker can postpone the discussion to another date also. In any case, the notice will have to be considered by the House,” Achary said.
The rules say that if the Speaker is of the opinion that the notice is in order, she shall read it to the House and see that it has the support of not less than fifty members.
On Friday, members of the YSR Congress, the TDP and other Opposition parties demanded that the notices be taken up.
AIADMK members were in the Well of the House, demanding the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.
Mahajan told the House during Zero Hour that she had received a notice for no-confidence motion. “I am duty-bound to bring it…provided the House is in order. I request all of you to go back to your seats,” Mahajan said. Protests, however, continued and the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
The Narendra Modi government, however, does not have to worry about the passage of the motion as it has the requisite strength in the Lower House.
Govt sitting pretty
At present, the government has the support support of 315 members in the Lok Sabha. The BJP has 275 members, including two nominated members and the Speaker. The Shiv Sena has 18 members and the LJP has six. Other constituents of the NDA such as SAD, RLSP, JD(U), PMK, etc, have pledged support to the Centre. The AIADMK, with 37 MPs, is undecided yet and this gives an edge to the Centre.
The Opposition has 183 members: the Congress has 48 MPs, the Trinamool Congress, 34, the BJD 20, and the TDP 16.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.