Opposition readies no-trust motion against government

Floor leaders of the Opposition parties on Tuesday favoured the option of moving a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in the Lok Sabha after the ruling side continuously rejected their demand for the PM's statement on Manipur in Parliament. They decided to take a formal decision about it on Wednesday since Trinamool members requested for a day's time to get back after consulting their leader Mamata Banerjee. The Opposition leaders are planning to submit a formal notice to the Speaker on Wednesday.

As per people aware of the matter, the proposal was made by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge at the meeting of the floor leaders of INDIA and was backed by almost all participants. It is learnt that the Congress parliamentary strategy committee meeting on the eve of the monsoon session had kept open the option of no-trust motion and had decided to make the proposal at the INDIA floor leaders meet.

"Leaders of INDIA alliance are collectively pondering the option of moving a no-confidence motion against the government," Congress floor leader Adhir Chowdhury told ET. Party spokesman Manish Tewari said, "All instrumentality available in rules and procedures remain open to the Opposition."


The proposal was endorsed by Sharad Pawar (NCP), TR Balu (DMK), Raghav Chadha (AAP), Manoj Jha (RJD), Rajiv Ranjan (JDU), Sanjay Raut (SS) Binoy Viswam (CPI), NK Premachandran (RS) and E Karim (CPI-M) among others, said the people cited earlier.

While numbers are loaded in favour of the government, "a no-trust motion can force the government to discuss Manipur, and make the PM break his silence in the House", an Opposition leader said.