In a significant political move, the Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday served notice to move a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The motion, signed by 71 Members of Parliament (MPs), includes support from all parties within the INDIA coalition, including the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party. While these parties have distanced themselves from the Congress on the Adani issue and avoided participating in protests within the Parliament premises, they have come together in this unprecedented challenge to Dhankhar’s leadership.
Sources confirm that the motion has been formally submitted, though it faces significant procedural hurdles. As per parliamentary rules, a no-confidence motion requires a 14-day notice period, but with only eight days remaining in the current winter session, it is unlikely that the motion will be able to move forward during this sitting.
The move comes amid growing tensions between the Opposition and the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Dhankhar has been vocal in reprimanding the Opposition bloc for their conduct in the Rajya Sabha, accusing them of disrupting proceedings and hindering the functioning of the House. These disruptions, largely stemming from demands for a discussion on the Adani issue, have caused considerable friction between the Government and Opposition parties.
While the no-confidence motion is unlikely to succeed in the short term, it signals the escalating frustration within the Opposition ranks regarding Dhankhar’s management of the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition has repeatedly accused him of being biased and not allowing them to raise critical issues affecting the nation.
In parallel to the motion, several Opposition MPs continued their protest against the Adani issue outside Parliament on Tuesday, carrying black ‘jholas’ (bags) emblazoned with caricatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani, along with the slogan “Modi Adani Bhai Bhai.” This protest is part of a broader campaign by Congress MPs, who have been staging daily demonstrations demanding a discussion on the alleged links between the Modi government and the Adani Group.
The no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman is expected to further intensify the standoff between the Government and the Opposition, with both sides preparing for more confrontational tactics as the winter session draws to a close. The resolution marks yet another chapter in the ongoing political battle that has dominated the parliamentary proceedings this session.
