NB Explains | No-confidence motion against Modi govt, a cheap tactic by Opposition? All you need to know-
In an effort to compel PM Modi to speak on the ongoing strife in Manipur in Parliament, which has brought the monsoon session to a standstill, opposition parties have decided to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government.
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New Delhi, July 26: Trying their dirty tricks, opposition parties belonging to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc have taken a significant step of moving a no-confidence motion against the BJP government. The aim is to compel PM Modi to speak on the ongoing strife in Manipur in Parliament, which has brought the monsoon session to a standstill.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, announced the opposition parties' decision, saying that they would bring a no-confidence motion in the lower house on Wednesday.
Here is all you need to know about no-confidence motion-
What is a no-confidence motion?
A no-confidence motion is a parliamentary process that allows the opposition to challenge the government's majority and ability to govern. If the motion is passed, the government must resign. Any member of the Lok Sabha can move a no-confidence motion. However, the motion must be supported by at least 50 members of the House. A no-confidence motion must be in writing and must be signed by the member moving it. The motion must be submitted to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on any day on which the House is sitting.
What happens after a no-confidence motion is moved?
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha will decide whether to admit the motion for discussion and debate. If the motion is admitted, the Speaker will then decide on the date and time for the discussion. The Speaker may grant time for the discussion of the motion (under sub-rule (2) and (3) of rule 198 of Lok Sabha Rules. Further, the no-confidence motion will be debated in the Lok Sabha. The motion will be moved by the member who submitted it, and the government will then respond to the motion. The opposition parties will then have the opportunity to speak on the motion.
How is a no-confidence motion voted on?
After the debate, the Lok Sabha will vote on the no-confidence motion. The motion will be passed if it is supported by a majority of the members of the House. And, if a no-confidence motion is passed, the government must resign. And if the government wins the vote on the no-confidence motion, the motion is defeated and the government remains in power.
How many no-confidence motions have been moved in the Lok Sabha?
Since independence, 27 no-confidence motions have been moved in the Lok Sabha. The first no-confidence motion was moved against Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1963. PM Indira Gandhi faced the most no-confidence motions (15), followed by Lal Bahadur Shastri and PV Narasimha Rao (three each).
The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government lost the no-confidence motion by a margin of one vote (269–270) in April
1999. The most recent no-confidence motion was moved against the Narendra Modi government in 2018.
Will the Opposition's "strategy" work?
Firstly, the numbers are not in the Opposition's favour in the Lok Sabha. The constituents of INDIA have about 141 seats in the Lok Sabha, whose current strength is 537. The NDA is above 320. The result of the motion is a foregone conclusion even if INDIA manages to get support from a few other Opposition parties.
The second risk that the coalition is taking is the fall of this motion, which could be used by the government to blunt further criticism. The third problem for the Opposition is the lack of firepower.