New Delhi, March 8 The second half of Parliament's budget session is set for a tumultuous start on Monday, with the Lok Sabha scheduled to take up a resolution sponsored by the opposition seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla.
The ongoing conflict in West Asia is also likely to be a prominent issue, as the opposition is already attacking the government over its stance on Iran, the US "waiver" on India's purchase of Russian oil, and other matters.
Furthermore, the outcome of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state of West Bengal, which led to the deletion of nearly 60 lakh votes, is also expected to influence parliamentary proceedings.
The no-confidence resolution against Birla was moved by several opposition leaders who alleged that he had acted in a "blatantly partisan" manner in the House.
They had also accused the speaker of making false claims against Congress members when he spoke of some "unexpected action" in the Lok Sabha and had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to attend the House to respond to the motion of thanks to the President's address.
Birla had recused himself from the proceedings of the House from the date of submission of the notice, with the Lok Sabha secretariat saying he would return only after the agenda was cleared.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi backed Birla, saying he had taken all Parliamentarians along and was committed to the principles of the Constitution and parliamentary democracy.
Apart from the no-trust notice, the US-Israel strikes on Iran and the growing tensions in West Asia, which have led to disruptions in crude oil supplies and rising prices, are also likely to be discussed during the session. The opposition is expected to question the government's policy on the matter.
TMC MPs are expected to raise the issue of the SIR in the House, while the BJP may also raise the issue of President Droupadi Murmu's "protocol breach" during her visit to West Bengal on Saturday.
The government is also expected to move the Electricity Amendment Bill during the remaining part of the budget session, along with other pending legislative business from the first half of the session.
According to the agenda paper for Monday, the resolution against the Speaker is the only item listed in the Lok Sabha's business for the day.
Both the ruling BJP and the principal opposition Congress have issued whips to their respective Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House when the issue is taken up for consideration.
The government has a strong majority, which will ensure that the resolution is defeated.
The Congress has called for a debate on the notice given by 118 MPs.
The Trinamool Congress has also said that it will support the resolution against Birla.
The Lok Sabha may not take up the Question Hour between 11 am and 12 noon on Monday, as it may be adjourned to pay respects to sitting member from Shillong Ricky Syngkon, who passed away on February 19.
Three former Lok Sabha Speakers – G V Mavlankar (1954), Hukam Singh (1966) and Balram Jakhar (1987) – had faced no-confidence motions in the past, which were defeated.