Lok Sabha passes Motion of Thanks without PM's reply amid opposition protests

Livemint - Politics · 16 Feb 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Polity and constitution High relevance

The Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks on the President's address without Prime Minister Narendra Modi's customary reply, marking the first such instance since 2004, amid vociferous opposition protests and walkouts.

Key points

Motion of Thanks: The Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to both Houses of Parliament on 28 January, without the Prime Minister's reply, a rare occurrence since 2004.

Opposition Protests: The opposition, led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accused the government of preventing Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi from speaking, leading to heated exchanges and sloganeering.

Speaker's Role: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla put the opposition amendments to the Motion of Thanks to a vote, which were rejected, and then read out the Motion, which was passed by a voice vote.

Historical Context: This is the first time since 2004 that the Motion of Thanks has been passed without the Prime Minister's reply, with the last instance involving then-PM Manmohan Singh during the budget debate.

Parliamentary Democracy: The incident raises questions about the functioning of parliamentary democracy, with opposition leaders emphasizing the right of the LoP to speak and initiate debates.

[GS2-Governance] The disruption highlights the need for better parliamentary decorum and mechanisms to ensure constructive opposition participation in legislative processes.

Way Forward: India should consider establishing a time-bound framework for opposition speeches in Parliament, enhance the role of the Speaker in mediating disputes, and institutionalize bipartisan committees to address procedural deadlocks.

Key terms

Parliamentary Privileges

Special rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament to enable them to perform their duties effectively, as outlined in Articles 105 and 122 of the Constitution. These include freedom of speech and immunity from legal action for statements made in Parliament.

Motion of Thanks

A parliamentary procedure where members of both Houses of Parliament debate and vote on a motion thanking the President for the address to the joint sitting. It is a constitutional convention under Article 87, reflecting the government's accountability to the legislature.

Leader of Opposition (LoP)

The leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, recognized under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. The LoP plays a crucial role in parliamentary democracy by representing alternative viewpoints and ensuring government accountability.

Voice Vote

A method of voting in Parliament where the Speaker decides the outcome based on the volume of 'Ayes' and 'Noes', without a formal count. It is used for non-controversial matters but can be challenged by demanding a division vote under Rule 367 of the Lok Sabha Rules.