Oppn plans to move a no-confidence motion

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) took its fight with the government to another level on Tuesday and said it plans to bring a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in an attempt to force him to reply on raging issues, including the Manipur situation. The decision comes after days of acrimony and disruption in Parliament coupled with the BJP’s refusal to accept the Opposition’s demand that Modi speak on Manipur. And it comes even as Union home minister Amit Shah made another attempt to break the deadlock in both houses of Parliament by writing to leaders of the Opposition, offering a discussion on the situation in the northeastern state.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

 

At the INDIA alliance’s floor strategy meeting on Tuesday, leaders of the member-parties discussed a proposal to move a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha. Later the Trinamool Congress’s Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O’Brien tweeted: “The overall Parliamentary strategy is in place for the INDIA parties. Tactics to execute that strategy evolve every day. Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha states the procedure of moving a no-confidence motion. Picture abhi baki hai (wait and watch)!”

To be sure, the Narendra Modi government, which enjoys the support of at least 332 MPs in the Lok Sabha, faces virtually no threat from this no-confidence motion. A senior Opposition leader said that the alliance has factored in the outcome of the voting on the motion before taking the decision. “We are looking at two positive sides of the no-confidence motion. One, the Prime Minister will be forced to speak in the House. And two, if the BJP tries to run away from the motion, it will be a political gain for us.”

The Congress on Tuesday evening issued a three-line whip asking its MPs to be present on Wednesday. A Congress Lok Sabha MP confirmed this. “All Lok Sabha MPs of (Congress Parliamentary Party) have been requested to be present positively in CPP Office on July 26, at 10.30am, to discuss some important issues.”

Other Opposition leaders said signatures of Opposition MPs will be collected for the notice on no-confidence. Signatures of at least 50 lawmakers supporting the motion is a mandatory requirement under Lok Sabha rules. The notice for no-confidence is set to be submitted by Thursday.