Constitutional Crisis in Lok Sabha: Om Birla Faces Removal Motion Amid Budget Session Chaos

The 2026 Budget Session of the Indian Parliament has shifted from fiscal debate to a high-stakes constitutional showdown. On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, a coalition of 118 Opposition MPs formally moved to oust Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of “blatantly partisan” conduct.

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This move represents one of the rarest procedures in Indian parliamentary history. In response, Birla has adopted a posture of “moral rectitude,” directing the Lok Sabha Secretariat to process the notice with urgency while refusing to occupy the Chair until his conduct is vindicated or the motion is disposed of.

The Constitutional Path: How a Speaker is Removed

The removal of a Speaker is governed by Article 94(c) of the Constitution and Rules 200 to 203 of the Lok Sabha. The process is designed to be rigorous to protect the independence of the Chair.

• The 14-Day Rule: Under the Constitution, a resolution for removal cannot be moved unless at least 14 days’ notice has been given.

• The Admission Threshold: After the notice period, at least 50 MPs must stand in their places to grant “leave” for the motion to be discussed.

• The Voting Majority: Unlike a standard bill, this resolution requires an effective majority—a majority of all the then members of the House (excluding vacancies).

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The “Four Stars of Destiny” Row: Why the House Stalled

The immediate trigger for the no-confidence motion was the Chair’s ruling on February 2, 2026, regarding an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General (Retd) MM Naravane, titled Four Stars of Destiny.

1. The Excerpt: LoP Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote a portion of the book alleging that during the 2020 Ladakh standoff, the Prime Minister’s instructions were reportedly vague (“Jo uchit samjho woh karo”).

2. The Gag Order: Treasury benches, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, argued that House rules prohibit quoting unpublished, unvetted manuscripts.

3. The Speaker’s Ruling: Om Birla sided with the government, leading to allegations from the INDIA bloc that the Chair was “shielding the Executive” from legitimate scrutiny on national security.

Unprecedented Precedents: Passing the Motion of Thanks Without the PM

The breakdown in communication between the Chair and the Opposition led to a historic anomaly on February 5, 2026. For the first time since 2004, the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address was passed via voice vote without a concluding speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government claimed the PM was “prevented” from speaking by a wall of protesting women MPs surrounding his seat. Conversely, the Opposition argued they were forced into protest because the Leader of the Opposition was “systematically silenced.”

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The “Moral Ground” Factor: Who Will Preside Now?

While Article 96 explicitly prohibits a Speaker from presiding while their removal is under consideration, Birla’s decision to step aside immediately—even before the 14-day notice period ends—is a tactical move to maintain the “dignity of the House.”

In his absence, the proceedings will be conducted by the Deputy Speaker (if the post were filled) or, as is the case in the current House, a member of the Panel of Chairpersons. This panel includes senior MPs from various parties, though the Opposition has already expressed concern that the selection of the presiding officer from this panel may still reflect the ruling party’s bias.

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[TIMELINE: THE ROAD TO THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION]

Next Steps

If you are following the legislative calendar, you should mark February 24, 2026, as the earliest date the motion can formally be taken up for admission in the House. Furthermore, keep an eye on the Delhi Police investigation into the “illegal circulation” of Gen. Naravane’s book; any formal declassification or publication of the text could potentially render the Speaker’s initial “unpublished” ruling moot and shift the debate’s momentum.

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