7 things to know about the no-confidence motion against Modi govt today

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByKumar Uttam

Jul 20, 2018 06:01 AM IST

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The motion, to be moved by the Telugu Desam Party, is supported by the Congress, the CPI(M) and other opposition parties.

The Lok Sabha will take up its first no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government for discussion and vote today. Here are seven things you should know about what will happen in the lower house of Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to address mediapersons ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday.(PTI Photo)

1) The no-confidence motion will be moved by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and supported by the Congress, the CPI(M) and other opposition parties. The TDP is a former ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). It broke its ties with the NDA this year after the Narendra Modi government rejected Andhra Pradesh’s demand for special category status by citing provisions that do not allow it for any mainland state.

2) The TDP moved the no-confidence notice on Wednesday, and it was supported by the requisite number of 50 MPs. The party had moved a similar notice in the budget session of Parliament, but it could not be admitted because the house was not in order following protests by the AIADMK and other parties over various issues.

3) Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has allotted seven hours for the debate on the motion, which will begin at 11 am. The house will suspend all business to take up the motion. There will be no question hour or lunch break for MPs during the debate.

4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the debate around 6 pm. His reply will be followed by a vote on the motion.

5) TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas will be the first speaker in the debate. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is expected to be the lead speaker from the main opposition party. The BJP, with 273 MPs, has more than three hours and 33 minutes of speech time and over half a dozen leaders from the ruling party will speak.

6) The current strength of the Lok Sabha is 533, excluding the speaker. While the ruling NDA needs the support of 267 MPs to defeat the motion, it has 312.

7) This is the first no-confidence motion against the Modi government, which stormed to power in May 2014 with the NDA winning 336 seats in the Lok Sabha. The BJP had won 282 seats on its own, garnering a simple majority in the lower house.