The Indian Parliament is gearing up for a high-stakes confrontation as the Budget Session resumes on Monday, March 9. The Lok Sabha is set to take up a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, backed by 118 MPs from the INDIA bloc. The Opposition has accused Birla of "brazenly partisan" conduct, alleging that he has muzzled their voices and favoured the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP-led NDA's treasury benches are preparing a counter-offensive to put the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, in a situation wherein he may face expulsion from Parliament altogether. The ongoing US-Iran conflict is set to make an appearance too.
Price-rise may fuel the fire, with the price of domestic LPG cylinders hiked by ₹60 on March 7. The motion against Om Birla may run into a challenge due to the lack of a deputy speaker since 2019. PM Modi has defended the speaker, describing him as a "brilliant" presiding officer who is "completely dedicated to the Constitution".
Parallel to the motion against Om Birla, the government is moving to target Rahul Gandhi through a 'substantive motion' submitted by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. The government has also scheduled a statement on the West Asia crisis triggered by the US and Israel's conflict with Iran.
Foreign policy will be on focus, with the Congress demanding a full discussion on the India-US trade deal. The Opposition has pointed to a recent 30-day waiver granted by the US for Indian refiners to buy Russian oil as "evidence" that India's energy policy is now subject to American "blackmail".
