No-Confidence Motion

No-Confidence Motion

The Speaker of the State's Legislative Assembly was the target of a no-confidence motion, made by the opposition party in Maharashtra.

What is a no-confidence motion?

• A no-confidence motion is a legislative resolution introduced in the Lok Sabha that declares the full council of ministers unfit to serve in leadership roles because of their shortcomings or failing to fulfil their responsibilities. It can be adopted in the Lok Sabha without a prior justification being given.

Rules regarding "No Confidence Motion":

• According to rule 198, a "No Confidence Motion" against the government may only be introduced in the Lok Sabha.
• A motion of confidence or no confidence is not mentioned in the Indian Constitution. The Lok Sabha is the Council of Ministers' sole source of accountability, according to Article 75.
• When at least 50 members of the house support a motion of no confidence, the motion will be accepted.
• The Speaker will next ask the House if the motion can be adopted after ensuring that it is in order.
• The Government must leave the position if the motion is approved by the entire parliament.
• To be approved by the House, a no-confidence resolution needs a majority of votes.
• If people or parties choose not to cast a ballot, those numbers will be subtracted from the House's total strength before the majority is determined.

Historical Perspective:

• On April 17, 1952, the first Lok Sabha was established.
• In August 1963, the administration of the time's prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the target of the first-ever "No Confidence Motion" in Parliament.
• Acharya JB Kripalani proposed this resolution in August 1963, but it received just 62 votes in favour and 347 votes against it.

Importance of "No Confidence Motion”:

• The "No Confidence Motion" is a crucial weapon in the Lok Sabha's arsenal against the Council of Ministers (COM).
• The "No Confidence Motion" is approved if 51% of the house members vote in favor of it, at which point the government is judged to have lost the majority and is required to resign.
• The opposition can ask the government to demonstrate its majority after bringing a "No Confidence Motion," or the government must introduce a vote of confidence to do so.
• The "No Confidence Motion" is occasionally introduced by the opposition to compel the government to address crucial matters.

Examples:

• The first "No Confidence Motion" against the administration of then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was presented in Parliament in August 1963.
• Acharya JB Kripalani proposed this motion, which obtained just 62 votes in support of it and 347 votes against it.
• Indira Gandhi has been the subject of 15 No Confidence Motions, which is the most ever.
• The No Confidence Motion has been put out by CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu at least four times.
• The first No-Confidence Motion to force the resignation of the government was under Morarji Desai's administration. The No-Confidence Motion against his government was introduced twice in the Lok Sabha.
• The first time it was salvaged, but he lost most of it the second time, in 1978. In advance of the vote, Morarji Desai resigned.
• In 1979, a motion of no confidence was submitted against Chaudhary Charan Singh's administration. Chaudhary Charan Singh suggested that the Lok Sabha be dissolved after submitting his resignation to the President.
• 1989 saw the dissolution of VP Singh's cabinet as the BJP lost its backing.
• In 1993, Narasimha Rao's administration was the target of a No-Confidence Motion, but he was able to defend it. In 1997, the Congress withdrew its support for the United Front Government, which led to the resignation of HD Deve Gowda, the prime minister at the time.
• After failing to establish a majority, I.K. Gujral's United Front Government was forced to resign in March 1998.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government barely lost the No Confidence Motion in 1999 by one vote, forcing him to resign.

Conclusion:

• A crucial step in the legislative process is the No Confidence Motion.
• Members who support the No Confidence Motion demonstrate their lack of confidence in the leadership of the country.
• Though it doesn't happen often, the opposition has occasionally defeated the ruling party by outnumbering them.