BJP and Congress Issue Whips for Lok Sabha MPs as Budget Session Resumes
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress have issued a three-line whip to their Lok Sabha Members of Parliament, directing them to be present in the House from March 9 to 11. This directive comes as the second phase of the Budget Session is set to begin, with the House likely to take up a notice from the opposition seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, according to reports from news agency PTI.
Second Phase of Budget Session Details
The second leg of the Budget Session will run from March 9 to April 2, following a recess period that allowed parliamentary standing committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries. The session, which began on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of both Houses, is scheduled for 30 sittings over 65 days and will conclude on April 2.
Recap of First Phase Highlights
The first phase of the Budget Session ended on February 13 and was marked by heated exchanges over several key issues. These included discussions on the India-US interim trade deal and controversies surrounding the unpublished memoir of former Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane. During this phase, Parliament primarily focused on the Union Budget for 2026-27 and the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha on February 1, marking her ninth consecutive budget presentation. The session saw sharp exchanges when leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi attempted to cite excerpts from Naravane’s unpublished memoir during the debate on the Motion of Thanks. This move drew strong objections from NDA MPs, who argued that an unpublished work cannot be quoted in Parliament.
Suspensions and Political Tensions
Amid the uproar, eight opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session for violating House rules. This included throwing papers at the Chair following protests over references to the 2020 eastern Ladakh standoff with China. Despite repeated disruptions and sloganeering by opposition members, the Lok Sabha on February 5 passed the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address without the customary reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Motion Against Speaker Om Birla
In response to the political tensions, the Congress submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Birla stated on moral grounds that he would not preside over proceedings until the motion is disposed of, adding another layer of complexity to the upcoming session.
Upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections
Meanwhile, polling for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha to fill 37 seats across 10 states is scheduled for March 16, with counting of votes to take place the same day at 5 pm. The last date for filing nominations was Thursday, scrutiny is currently underway, and candidates can withdraw nominations until March 9, aligning with the start of the second phase of the Budget Session.
