Opposition’s move to remove Om Birla raises questions over strategy and outcome

What has the Opposition achieved by submitting a notice for a motion to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla? That’s an open question. The 118 members of the Lower House who signed the notice may be curiously pondering what lies ahead, what next and what more. But the person at the centre of all this is set to have a lot of breathing space. He could chill out, loosen up, unplug and unwind, put his feet up and be at leisure as knowingly or unknowingly a group of leaders have given him plenty of me time.

Everybody knows where this motion will end up. However, to have a decompressing moment during a Parliament session, which is always high on emotions, is a significant respite for the ultimate custodian and guardian of the rights and privileges of members since he would be off the Opposition radar for much more than a few days. The Opposition will have to discover a new target. Not a difficult task, particularly when it’s a packed House.

With the Speaker in relaxed mode, the Opposition will have real hard work as leaders will have to prepare and make notes for House debates and deliver them as well. Excuses won’t work. Also, the Speaker will have the privilege of observing the events from a distance.
Several things may continue — like a notice against a notice, man-marking, a breakaway moment, a game of banners and so on — in and outside the Sabha, but the real field of operations would be offstage so that the larger audience can have a glimpse of the deal but not its making. After all, much more goes on behind the scenes than what is seen on stage.