A no-confidence motion is a parliamentary motion which is moved in the Lok Sabha against the entire council of ministers, stating that they are no longer deemed fit to hold positions of responsibility due to their inadequacy in some respect or their failure to carry out their obligations. No prior reason needs to be stated for its adoption in the Lok Sabha.
• According to the Constitution, a government is eligible to remain in power only if it has the required numbers for a majority in Lok Sabha.
• Article 75(3) of India’s Constitution lays the down provision that Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to Lok Sabha.
• The rules of Lok Sabha have a mechanism called ‘no-confidence motion’ to test the collective responsibility. According to the rules, a Lok Sabha MP needs to garner the 50 lawmakers to introduce a no-confidence motion against the government. Subsequently, a discussion on the motion takes place.
• Once the Lok Sabha speaker decides that motion is in order, she would ask the opposition leader if the party is pressing admission of its motion. At least 50 MPs would need to stand up and support the move. If there are 50 MPs in favour, the motion is admitted and the speaker allots a date for discussion on the motion.
• The prime minister or ministers reply to the charges made. The mover has the right to reply. After the debate, the speaker puts question to the house and ascertains the decision of the house by voice vote or a division.
The government just needed 267 votes to sail through the no confidence motion.
• In a house of 535 members, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had 313 members in the Lok Sabha, including 274 (including the speaker) of BJP, 18 of Shiv Sena, six Lok Janshakti Party and four Shiromani Akali Dal.
• The stated strength of the opposition was 222, including 63 of the Congress-led UPA, 37 of AIADMK, 34 of Trinamool Congress, 20 Biju Janata Dal, 16 Telugu Desam Party and 11 Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
