The 2026 Budget Session has devolved into a war of correspondence as 11 women MPs from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formally expressed their support for Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, February 10. This “letter of faith” serves as a direct rebuttal to an earlier missive from Congress lawmakers, who accused the Speaker of being a “partisan” tool for the treasury benches.
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Faith vs. Friction: The 11 BJP MPs’ Response
The BJP delegation, which includes senior leaders and former union ministers, urged Birla to take “strictest possible action” against what they termed “heinous acts” by the Opposition.
The Core Argument: The MPs praised the Speaker’s “patience and perseverance” in maintaining the House’s dignity despite being physically and verbally intimidated.
The “Siege” Claim: The letter alleges that on February 4, certain women MPs from the INDIA bloc crossed over to the treasury benches, surrounding the Prime Minister’s seat in a manner that threatened parliamentary safety.
The February 4 Ruckus: Two Versions of the Truth
At the heart of the logjam is a chaotic sequence of events that prevented Prime Minister Narendra Modi from delivering his customary reply to the Motion of Thanks.
The Speaker’s Defense: Om Birla claims he advised the PM not to attend because of “definite information” that Congress MPs intended to disrupt him.
The Opposition Rebuttal: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress women MPs have dismissed the “threat” as an “absolute lie.” In their own letter, they argued that their protest was peaceful and that the PM simply “lacked the courage” to face the House after blocking the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).
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The LoP Factor: Why Rahul Gandhi is “Incensed”
The tension reached a boiling point after LoP Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to quote from a controversial book by former Army Chief General MM Naravane regarding the 2020 Ladakh standoff.
The Ruling: The Speaker ruled that unpublished or unauthenticated literature cannot be cited on the floor.
The Double Standard: The Opposition was further incensed when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was allowed to read from texts targeting the Gandhi family shortly thereafter. Gandhi has characterized this as a “deliberate attempt” to suppress national security discussions.
The No-Confidence Motion: A Symbolic Showdown?
Reports indicate that the Opposition has finalized a notice for a no-confidence motion against Om Birla, signed by over 100 MPs from the Congress, DMK, and Samajwadi Party.
The Mechanism: Under Article 94(c) of the Constitution, a Speaker can be removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then-members of the House, provided a 14-day notice is given.
The Numbers Game: While the move is largely symbolic—as the NDA holds a clear majority—it represents the deepest breakdown of trust in the Speaker’s office in over a decade.
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[PARLIAMENTARY SHOWDOWN SUMMARY – FEB 10, 2026]
| Issue | Opposition Stand | Government/Speaker Stand |
| PM’s Presence | PM is “hiding” from the China debate. | PM was advised to stay away for safety. |
| LoP Rights | Rahul Gandhi’s voice is being stifled. | Rules prohibit citing unauthenticated books. |
| Suspensions | 8 MPs suspended for “asking questions.” | MPs suspended for “climbing tables/tearing papers.” |
| No-Confidence | 103+ signatures ready for removal. | “They lack the numbers; it’s an insult to the Chair.” |
Next Steps
With the first half of the Budget Session ending on February 13, the House is in a race against time to pass the Union Budget 2026-27. You should watch for whether the Opposition officially tables the no-confidence notice today; if admitted, the 14-day clock will trigger a historic debate in late February. Furthermore, if you are following the legislative agenda, check the Lok Sabha Bulletin for any new suspension orders that might further polarize the House.
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