New Delhi

Mohammad Jawed, MP from the Indian National Congress, on Tuesday moved a resolution in the Lok Sabha seeking a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla.

More than 50 MPs supported the motion, following which Jagdambika Pal, who was presiding over the House, granted leave to move the resolution.

Pal announced that 10 hours had been allotted for the debate and urged members to confine their remarks to the resolution. He also said the Speaker had been generous in allowing the Opposition to bring the motion.

Ahead of the voting, Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen raised the issue of appointing a Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha.

Congress MP K C Venugopal alleged that the government had not appointed a Deputy Speaker for several years, creating a “constitutional vacuum.” Questioning Pal’s authority to preside over the proceedings, he said the House should elect a member to conduct the debate on the resolution.

However, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Nishikant Dubey of the Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed the Opposition’s objections as “baseless.”

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also backed Dubey, saying there was no need to raise the issue.

According to the Opposition, a total of 118 MPs have signed the motion, accusing the Speaker of “partisan” conduct after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was allegedly not allowed to speak in the House.

While presenting the resolution, Jawed also claimed that the Speaker had wrongly alleged that Opposition women MPs were planning a physical attack on the Prime Minister.

Sources said Rijiju is expected to initiate the discussion on the motion. BJP MPs Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Bhartruhari Mahtab are likely to speak during the debate.

Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is also expected to address the House.

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From the Congress side, Gaurav Gogoi, Manish Tewari, Deepender Singh Hooda and Jothimani will present arguments in support of the resolution seeking the removal of the Speaker.