Nishikant Dubey, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party, has sought the expulsion of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha. Dubey has submitted a notice calling for a substantive motion against Gandhi over his remarks concerning the India–US trade deal.

The BJP MP has demanded cancellation of Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership and has also called for a lifetime ban on him from contesting elections. The development has raised questions about the procedure for removing a sitting Member of Parliament from the House.

How can a Lok Sabha MP be expelled

The process for expelling a Member of Parliament involves several procedural steps within the House:

Submission of complaint
The process begins when a member or political party files a formal complaint against a sitting MP.

Reference to committee
The Lok Sabha Speaker may refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges for examination. The committee is tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry into the allegations.

Investigation and findings
The committee can examine evidence, call witnesses, and allow the concerned MP to present a defence. After completing its review, it submits a report outlining its findings and recommendations.

Consideration by the House
The committee’s report is tabled in the Lok Sabha. If it recommends expulsion, a motion is moved in the House to adopt the recommendation.

Voting on expulsion
For the motion to pass, it must secure a majority of members present and voting. If approved, the MP stands expelled from the House.

Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification in 2023

In 2023, a court in Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case related to a remark about the “Modi surname”. Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any MP convicted and sentenced to two years or more faces automatic disqualification from Parliament.

Following the conviction, Gandhi was disqualified as a Member of Parliament. However, he later challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court of India, which stayed his conviction. After the stay order, his Lok Sabha membership was restored and he resumed his role as an MP.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the India-Bangladesh international border in Assam’s Cachar district on February 21, in a move that carries political and administrative significance ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

According to party sources, Shah will arrive in Assam on February 20 and travel the following morning to Natanpur village in the Katigorah area, located close to the international border. During his visit on February 21, he is scheduled to participate in an event under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).

The visit is notable as action against illegal immigrants from Bangladesh has remained a key electoral issue for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

Ahead of the Home Minister’s arrival, State minister Kaushik Rai, Cachar district commissioner Ayush Garg, and senior officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and police reviewed security arrangements and preparedness in Natanpur village.

Natanpur, situated along the international boundary in Cachar district, has witnessed the apprehension of over 200 illegal migrants in recent years, including individuals from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The Vibrant Villages Programme, organised by the Home Ministry, focuses on strengthening border areas through livelihood generation, tourism promotion, preservation of cultural heritage, skill development, and support for agriculture and allied sectors.

With the Tamil Nadu elections approaching, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay launched a strong attack on Chief Minister M K Stalin and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), accusing them of attempting to influence voters through financial promises.

Addressing a massive gathering in Salem, Vijay questioned the timing of the state government’s transfer of Rs 3,000 to women beneficiaries under a welfare initiative, describing it as an “advance payment”. He also criticised the announcement of an additional Rs 2,000 per woman as part of a so-called “summer special”, suggesting the payout was linked to the election outcome.

“Will you vote for ‘good’ TVK or ‘evil’ DMK?” Vijay asked supporters, framing the contest as a moral battle.

‘Take the money, but blow the whistle’

Claiming the DMK was attempting to buy votes, Vijay urged people to accept the financial assistance but support his party at the ballot box. Referring to TVK’s election symbol, he said, “Take the money, but blow the whistle.”

He questioned the rationale behind calling it a “summer allowance”, asking whether summer occurred only this year. According to him, the announcement was prompted by the growing popularity of the TVK and its whistle symbol across the state.

Vijay alleged that Stalin feared increasing support for his party, particularly among women voters. Taking a swipe at the DMK’s experience in governance, he remarked that while the ruling party had experience in corruption, his party was “inexperienced in that”.

Rally restrictions and Karur stampede reference

The TVK leader also criticised restrictions imposed on attendance at the Salem rally, including a reported cap of 4,998 participants and identity verification measures.

Authorities cited a stampede at a rally in Karur last year, in which 41 people lost their lives, as the reason for stricter norms. The DMK accused Vijay of failing to follow standard operating procedures during that event. However, TVK leaders have alleged that the violence was orchestrated to damage the actor’s political prospects.

Vijay dismissed the revised guidelines as politically motivated, quipping that he was familiar only with “Stalin Operating Procedure”. He pledged to continue fighting for justice for those who died in Karur.

TVK’s positioning in a Dravidian-dominated landscape

Vijay and the TVK have emerged as potential challengers in a political landscape long dominated by the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which have alternated in power since the late 1960s.

The actor has ruled out any alliance with the DMK, describing it as his political adversary. His criticism of the AIADMK, however, has been comparatively restrained, a move seen as an attempt to attract swing voters and draw on the legacy of its founder M G Ramachandran.

National parties remain aligned with the state’s principal Dravidian forces for now, though political observers note ongoing discussions and potential shifts in seat-sharing arrangements.

As campaigning gathers pace, Vijay’s rhetoric signals an aggressive push to convert his popularity into electoral gains, positioning the TVK as an alternative to established players in Tamil Nadu politics.