Rahul Gandhi to Lead No-Confidence Debate Against Modi Government in Parliament

New Delhi, August 8, 2023: Rahul Gandhi, the reinstated Lok Sabha MP of the Congress, is set to initiate the no-confidence debate against the Narendra Modi-led government in the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, following his recent restoration after the suspension of his criminal defamation conviction in the Modi surname case by the Supreme Court.

Joining him in the debate from the Congress will be his party colleagues Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari, as per sources. Gandhi’s last parliamentary speech took place on February 7, 2023, during the discussion on the President’s speech.

As a staunch critic of Modi and a prominent contender in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Wayanad MP had been expelled from Parliament due to his conviction by a Gujarat magistrate’s court in March. The Supreme Court’s temporary suspension of his conviction on Friday paves the way for a detailed examination of Gandhi’s appeal before a final verdict is issued. Although Gandhi was initially sentenced to a two-year prison term, his incarceration was stayed by the court in April. Subsequently, he appealed the conviction in the Supreme Court last month after it was upheld by the Gujarat high court.

The no-confidence motion debate is scheduled to commence in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with a designated time of 12 hours for discussion. Sources indicate that approximately 6 hours and 41 minutes have been allocated for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and around one hour and 15 minutes for the Congress party.

Other parties such as Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Shivsena, Janata Dal – United (JDU), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will share a total of 2 hours, proportionately divided according to their representation in the house.

Smaller parties and independent MPs have been allotted a time limit of 1 hour 10 minutes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to respond to the no-confidence motion on August 10, in response to the Opposition’s demand for a comprehensive discussion on the Manipur violence and a statement from the prime minister.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge affirmed, “(Rahul Gandhi) will definitely speak,” when asked about Gandhi’s participation in the no-confidence motion discussion.

Last week, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted the no-confidence motion presented by the Opposition parties of the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

In anticipation of the no-confidence motion debate, the Bharatiya Janata Party has convened a parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday.