Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 18

The BJP-led NDA government will face its first motion of no confidence on July 20 as Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan admitted the notice of no confidence moved by the TDP.

“Discussion and voting on no-confidence motion will take place on July 20. All business of the Lok Sabha will be suspended to take up the notice. There will be no Question Hour or any private members business on Friday,” said the Speaker.

The Speaker admitted the motion after more than the required 50 MPs stood in support.

Apart from TDP, members of Congress, TMC, NCP, Left and SP backed the motion.

Soon as the Speaker admitted the motion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said, “The government is ready. Let the country see who has how much strength. People love PM Modi outside and even inside we have the majority.”

Speaker said she would soon inform the House when the discussion on the motion will be listed and how much time will be allotted.

The notice was accepted in the Zero Hour after the Prime Minister had left the House.

The Prime Minister was in the House for most part of the Question Hour today.Clad in a white kurta and pyjama, Modi took a round of the front rows of ruling and Opposition benches. He greeted members with folded hands and was also seen exchanging a few words with Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Some members clapped when the prime minister walked into the House.

TDP members remained in the Well shouting “special status got Andhra”

Slogans and carrying placards demanding admission of their no-confidence notice in protest of denial of special package for Andhra.

SP members also disrupted proceedings of the Zero Hour demanding withdrawal of the UGC ordinance, which dilutes quotas in higher educational institutions.

Also, present in the LS were Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, UPA head Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

The TDP has moved the no-confidence notice in the Budget session, also, but it wasn’t accepted because of lack of order in the House.

Speaker admitted the motion today as the House was in order and all MPs were in their seats.

Before the Question Hour commenced, four new members took oath and Mahajan read out obituaries of three former members.

Kukade Madhukarrao Yashwantrao (NCP), Gavit Rajendra Dhedya (BJP), Tokheho (NDPP) and Tabassum Begum (RLD) took oath as members.