No-confidence motion: What PM Modi predicted in 2019 comes true in 2023

Vibha Sharma

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Chandigarh, July 26

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday admitted a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government on the Manipur issue. The motion was moved by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi with the support of more than 50 opposition MPs.

Speaker Om Birla said the date and time for discussion would be fixed after consultation with all parties. Under the rules, the Speaker has to list the motion for debate and voting within 10 days of admission.

Opposition alliance INDIA moved the motion in order to make PM Modi speak in Parliament on the Manipur violence. Major opposition parties TMC, Left, NC, DMK, NCP and JDU are supporting the motion.

Expected fate of the motion 

The decision to move the motion was taken by the opposition alliance on Tuesday. Opposition leaders felt it was an effective way to compel the government to initiate a discussion on the grim situation in Manipur inside the House and PM Modi to speak on it. The government has been insisting that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the Manipur situation.

While the opposition strategy is to corner the NDA on the sensitive issue ahead of the 2024 general election, given the sheer strength of the BJP, allies and friendly parties in the Lok Sabha it is almost a certainty that the no-confidence motion moved will fail the numbers test.

Opposition leaders, however, argue that they will win the battle of perception by cornering the government on the critical issue during the debate.

If a motion is passed, the government has to resign.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal took a swipe at PM Modi, saying that when he “lacks” the confidence to make a statement in Parliament, how can INDIA have confidence in him?

No Confidence Motion

When PM lacks confidence to
make statement in Parliament; keeps ‘maun’ on the crimes against women in Manipur till the Supreme Court comments; keeps ‘maun’ on Brij Bhushan

Says no territory in occupied by China

How can I.N.D.I.A have confidence in him ?

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) July 26, 2023

“No Confidence Motion. When PM lacks confidence to make statement in Parliament; keeps ‘maun’ on the crimes against women in Manipur till the Supreme Court comments; keeps ‘maun’ on Brij Bhushan; Says no territory is occupied by China. How can I.N.D.I.A have confidence in him?” he said.

What is a no-confidence motion

Under Lok Sabha procedures, a no-confidence motion to be adopted must have the backing of 50 members once the Speaker puts it up for a show of strength in the House. Once there is support, the motion is admitted for debate.

Basically, the Parliamentary process allows the opposition to challenge the government’s majority and ability to govern.

The no-confidence motion is then debated in the Lok Sabha. The motion is moved by the member who submitted it and the government responds. After the debate, the Lok Sabha votes on motion.

What happens if motion is passed

Since Independence, several no-confidence motions have been moved in the Lok Sabha. According to reports, late PM Indira Gandhi faced the maximum, as many as 15, followed by late Lal Bahadur Shastri and late PV Narasimha Rao (three each).

If the motion is passed, the government must resign.

If the motion is defeated, that is the government wins the vote, it remains in power.

BJP’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee lost the motion by just one vote in April 1999.

No-confidence in PM Modi    

PM Modi had faced a similar motion in 2018 which he won comfortably. Then the Telugu Desam Party, a former NDA ally, had brought the motion, accusing the government of non-allocation of adequate funds to Andhra Pradesh, which was defeated 325:126.

Today’s no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government saw PM Modi’s February 2019 reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Adress and prediction for 2023 going viral on social media.

VIDEO: PM Sh @narendramodi had made a prediction 5 years back about the opposition bringing a No confidence motion! pic.twitter.com/dz8McicQ40

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) July 26, 2023

The clip posted by Union minister Jitendra Singh shows PM Modi telling opposition parties also to move a similar motion in 2023 as well. “I want to send you my good wishes that you prepare so much that you get a chance to bring a no-confidence again in 2023,” PM Modi had said ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also reminded the opposition of its “failed attempt” ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“If they are doing so, they should know that last time they brought a no-confidence motion, the BJP came back to power with a stronger majority of over 300 seats and the same will happen again and we will get more than 350 seats,” Joshi was quoted as saying.