According to sources, certain parties within the opposition INDIA alliance are preparing to file a notice for a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha. Their objective is to prompt Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the issue of Manipur violence during a parliamentary session. The proposal to submit the notice was discussed at a meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) constituents. The sources noted that after considering various options, this was deemed an effective approach to compel the government to initiate a discussion on the matter.
Furthermore, the opposition’s strategy to put pressure on the government regarding Manipur will also extend to the Rajya Sabha, as per the sources. When queried about the opposition’s potential action, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed unawareness but highlighted that the last time a no-confidence motion was brought forth, the BJP returned to power with a stronger majority of over 300 seats. He confidently asserted that history would repeat itself, with the BJP securing more than 350 seats.
On July 20, 2018, the Lok Sabha witnessed the first no-confidence motion against the Modi government. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerged victorious with an overwhelming majority, as 325 MPs voted against the motion while only 126 supported it.
Although the outcome of the 2018 no-trust vote in the Lower House was largely expected due to the NDA’s substantial number of MPs, the ensuing debate provided the opposition with an opportunity to criticize the government on several fronts, including agricultural distress, sluggish economic growth, and the rising instances of mob lynching.
