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Updated July 18th, 2018 at 14:19 IST

MASSIVE: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan accepts No-Confidence motion against Narendra Modi-led government on Day 1 of Monsoon Session. Full details here

In a massive political development, Sumitra Mahajan, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, on Wednesday, accepted the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led government moved by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Reported by: Ankit Prasad
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In a massive political development, Sumitra Mahajan, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, on Wednesday, accepted the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led government moved by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

On the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, a total of eight no-confidence motions were moved, of which the Speaker accepted the one that was given first, which was by TDP MP Kesinani Srinivasrao.

The Speaker will decide within ten days on the date and time at which the motion will be taken up. 

(UPDATE: The No-Confidence motion will be taken up on Friday in the Lok Sabha and on Monday in the Rajya Sabha. Voting will be conducted in the Lok Sabha on Friday itself)

The TDP's no-confidence motion has over 50 signatures, and has been supported by the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Left and Trinamool Congress.

Both houses got off to rocky starts on Wednesday, with the Rajya Sabha even having to be adjourned for a short while on account of sloganeering. The Telugu Desam Party picked up where it left off in the previous session by seeking to corner the government over the matter of Special Category status to Andhra Pradesh that had seen it exiting the NDA alliance.

The no-confidence motion doesn't necessarily pose a destabilisation threat to the NDA government, as the BJP is close to a majority on its own even without its allies, but it does put the onus on parties to pick sides and potentially deal an embarrassment.

WHAT PM MODI SAID

Speaking to the media shortly before the session began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the government was open to discussing any matter that any political party wanted to raise. With the washed-out Budget session in mind, the Prime Minister said the following:

"Many important matters that need to be deliberated on and discussed. The better and more constructive the discussion will be, the better it will be for the country. The Government will also benefit from good ideas. I ask all the parties to make the best of the limited time that is available to both houses to work towards the country's progress."

"Let an example also be set for all state assemblies. I have faith. I have stated my faith before. I am stating it again. Our attempt to have a smooth session will continue."

"If any party wants to talk on any issue, the government is ready. This is the Monsoon session. Because of Monsoon there are a number of issues in the country that need discussion. Discussion on this will also be very important."

READ | Parliament’s Monsoon Session 2018: Here's All You Need To Know

THE MONSOON SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

The monsoon session of Parliament begins on July 18 and ends on August 10. Eighteen new bills, including the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) bill, 2018, are expected to be introduced. The government is also expecting to transact crucial business in this 18-day-long session.  Additionally, they are expected to push Triple Talaq and National Medical Commission Bill in Rajya Sabha where the NDA still doesn't have numbers decisive enough to clear legislation.

Ahead of the beginning of the session, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan called an all-party meeting on Tuesday while Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu invited them to tea at his residence. The opposition, which has greater numbers than the NDA in the Rajya Sabha, met on Monday to finalise its strategy for the upcoming monsoon session.

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Published July 18th, 2018 at 12:48 IST

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