In a parliamentary democracy like India, the government’s legitimacy and continuance in power are contingent upon having the support of a majority in the directly elected House of the Parliament. To assess this collective responsibility, the mechanism of a no-confidence motion exists. Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted a motion of no-confidence against the government, initiated by Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, after garnering the support of 50 MPs as mandated by the rules.
What is a No-Confidence Motion?
In a parliamentary democracy, the executive, i.e., the Council of Ministers is accountable to the legislature, which is represented by the Lok Sabha in India. Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution establishes the principle of collective responsibility, stating that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. To ascertain this collective responsibility, the Lok Sabha has a particular mechanism known as a motion of no-confidence.
The procedure for a no-confidence motion is specified under Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha. While the Constitution does not explicitly mention either a Confidence or a No-Confidence Motion, the rules of Lok Sabha have provisions for their implementation. Since India’s independence, there have been 27 no-confidence motions introduced in the Lok Sabha. The first one against the administration of then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was presented in August 1963, which obtained only 62 votes in favor and 347 votes against it. The most recent no-confidence motion was moved in 2018 against the then NDA government.
Who can move a No-Confidence Motion?
Any Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha can introduce a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers if they can gather the support of at least 50 colleagues. The motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha. This provision ensures that the directly elected representatives hold the power to assess and potentially remove the government from office.
Facts about the Debate and Vote
When a no-confidence motion is submitted, the member who initiated it presents the motion to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Subsequently, the government is given an opportunity to respond to the motion, explaining their position and seeking support to continue in power.
Following the government’s response, opposition parties get a chance to speak on the motion. This debate provides an essential platform for representatives from different political parties to express their viewpoints on the government’s performance and justify their decision to support or oppose the motion.
After the debate, the Lok Sabha conducts a vote on the no-confidence motion. For the motion to be successful, it must be supported by a majority of the members present and voting in the House. If the majority of MPs vote in favor of the motion, the government is considered to have lost the confidence of the House.
Consequences of a No-Confidence Motion
If a no-confidence motion is passed by the Lok Sabha, the government is obliged to resign. This signifies a significant loss of confidence in the government’s ability to lead and govern the country effectively. The resignation of the government leads to the formation of a new government, which may involve the opposition party or coalition attempting to gain the majority and form an alternative administration.
However, if the government wins the vote on the no-confidence motion, the motion is defeated, and the government continues to remain in power. This outcome reaffirms the government’s majority and legitimacy, allowing it to continue its governance without any immediate challenges to its authority.