New Delhi

The Congress party is set to submit a notice for a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, following repeated adjournments and disruptions in the Lower House, sources said on Tuesday.

According to sources, the Congress will shortly submit the notice to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh. The development comes after Congress MPs signed the proposed motion on Monday.

The Lok Sabha briefly reconvened on Tuesday but was adjourned till 12 noon amid sloganeering by Opposition members.

Sources indicated that the proposed motion has received support from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has decided not to associate itself with the initiative, despite earlier speculation.

Sources further said the Congress leadership is weighing its next steps and may reconsider proceeding with the motion if Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is allowed to speak in the House. If not, the party is expected to push ahead with the no-confidence move.

The standoff follows Opposition allegations that Rahul Gandhi was denied the opportunity to speak during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. During the debate, Gandhi attempted to refer to former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s memoir while raising the issue of the 2020 standoff with China. The Speaker ruled that unpublished material could not be cited in the House.

On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that conflicting claims were being made regarding the publication status of the book. He questioned statements by the publisher, Penguin, which maintained that the book had not been printed or released, despite public references by General Naravane suggesting otherwise.

The BJP strongly countered the Congress’s claims. Party MP Nishikant Dubey accused the Opposition of misleading Parliament and acting against national interests.

“Penguin has clearly stated that the book has neither been printed nor released. There are established rules of Parliament, and no member can mislead the House. I urge the Speaker to take strict action,” Dubey said.

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While the Congress lacks the numbers required to carry a no-confidence motion, sources indicated that the move is likely to intensify disruptions in Parliament in the coming days.