#Monsoonsession : BJP led NDA govt set to face no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha today; stay tuned with NewsBharati for updates

New Delhi, July 20: Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government is all set to face a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha which was moved by Opposition. Notably, this is the first no-confidence motion in four years of BJP-led NDA government.

 

Notably, opposition parties including Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Congress moved a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha against BJP-led NDA government over the issues of special status for Andhra Pradesh and mob lynching incidents.

The central government has a full majority in Lok Sabha with over 300 members including 273 of the BJP. The total strength of the Lok Sabha, excluding the Speaker is 544 and its current strength is 533 as a result of 11 vacancies. The government needs 267 to clear the test. While several regional parties have not come out in support of either the government or the Opposition and have chosen to take a neutral stand and may perhaps abstain during voting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today is an important day in a Parliamentary democracy. In a tweet, PM Modi said he is sure that the Members of Lok Sabha will rise to the occasion and ensure a constructive, comprehensive and disruption-free debate. He also said government owe this to the people and the makers of the constitution. The PM said the country will be watching the Motion closely.

Here is what PM Modi tweeted:

The debate on the no-confidence motion is scheduled to start in the Lok Sabha at 11 am and seven hours have been allotted for it. The BJP has been allotted more than three and half hours, Congress nearly 40 minutes, AIADMK-29 minutes and All India Trinamool Congress 27 minutes. As the main mover of the no-confidence motion, the TDP will initiate the debate.

However, BJP had earlier expressed its confidence of defeating no-confidence motion. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Wednesday said, "We are ready to give a befitting reply to the opposition on the no-confidence motion. We are 100 percent confident of defeating it. The NDA is united and would vote against the motion."

Importantly, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had accepted the Motion on Wednesday for discussion and voting on it in the Lower House of Parliament.

Today’s no-confidence motion, the 27th in Parliamentary history, is the first to be admitted in 15 years. The last was in 2003 when the Congress party moved a no-confidence motion against prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

What is a no-confidence motion?

A government can function only when it has majority support in the Lok Sabha. The party can remain in power when it shows its strength through a floor test which is primarily taken to know whether the executive enjoys the confidence of the legislature. If any member of the House feels that the government in power does not have a majority then he/she can move a no-confidence motion. If the motion is accepted, then the party in power has to prove its majority in the House. The member need not give a reason for moving the no-confidence motion.

How it works?

A no-confidence motion can be moved by any member of the House. It can be moved only in the Lok Sabha and not Rajya Sabha. Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Lok Sabha specifies the procedure for moving a no-confidence motion. The member has to give a written notice of the motion before 10 am which will be read out by the Speaker in the House. A minimum of 50 members have to accept the motion and accordingly, the Speaker will announce the date for discussion for the motion. The allotted date has to be within 10 days from the day the motion is accepted. Otherwise, the motion fails and the member who moved the motion will be informed about it.

If the government is not able to prove its majority in the House, then the government of the day has to resign.