New Delhi: The second phase of the Parliament Budget Session begins today amid heightened political tensions, with the opposition preparing to move a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The motion, reportedly backed by 118 Members of Parliament, could be taken up for discussion on the very first day. If debated, the Speaker will not preside over the proceedings and will instead sit with members of the ruling side, while senior MPs may temporarily oversee the House in the absence of a Deputy Speaker. The opposition has accused the Speaker of making one-sided interventions favoring the government and failing to safeguard the credibility of the entire House.
Ahead of the session, opposition leaders met on Sunday at the residence of Rajya Sabha Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge to finalize their strategy for the coming days. The first phase of the Budget Session had witnessed repeated disruptions in both Houses as opposition parties united to raise several issues and stage protests inside and outside Parliament. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to brief Parliament on the escalating crisis in West Asia that intensified on February 28. The Budget Session is scheduled to continue until April 2.
