The Lok Sabha has faced repeated disruptions for the sixth consecutive day, as the opposition continues to stall proceedings. The central point of contention remains the opposition's insistence that Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi be given the opportunity to speak before the discussion on the Union Budget commences.
On Monday, February 9, 2026, the Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned twice before being adjourned for the day due to the ongoing standoff. The initial adjournment occurred at 11 a.m. at the start of the day's business, and again shortly after at 12 noon. When the House reconvened at 2 p.m., Sandhya Ray, who was presiding over the session, called on Congress member Shashi Tharoor to begin the budget debate. However, opposition members persisted in their demand for Gandhi to speak first.
Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the chair, emphasized that the scheduled discussion was specifically on the budget, and Tharoor had been designated by the Congress party as their lead speaker. Tenneti stated that he needed to seek further clarity on whether the LoP could be permitted to speak at this juncture and also directly asked Gandhi if he wished to speak on the Budget. Tharoor, in turn, stated that he would yield to the LoP. The continued stalemate led to Tenneti adjourning the House until 2 p.m.
Shashi Tharoor spoke to reporters outside the Parliament building after the House was adjourned, explaining that Gandhi wanted to address allegations that Congress MPs had planned an "unexpected act" when the Prime Minister was scheduled to appear in the Lok Sabha the previous week to respond to the debate on the Motion of Thanks. Tharoor emphasized that a clarification from the LoP was necessary.
Speaker Om Birla had previously expressed his concern on February 5, stating that he had "concrete information" suggesting that some Congress members might approach the Prime Minister's seat and engage in an "unexpected act". As a result, he had requested the Prime Minister not to attend the House for the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.
Earlier on Monday, before the initial adjournment, Speaker Birla criticized opposition members for "planning" disruptions as they raised issues during Question Hour, demanding immediate attention. Birla pointed out that these issues could be addressed during the discussion on the Union Budget and that all members, including the LoP, were free to speak during the debate. He urged them to allow the House to function according to established rules.
Amid the ongoing disruptions, Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders met with Speaker Om Birla to discuss the situation. They conveyed concerns regarding the suspension of eight Congress MPs and other parliamentary matters. The opposition leaders urged the Speaker to revoke the suspension in order to break the stalemate. The Lok Sabha has experienced persistent disruptions since February 3, following a situation where Gandhi was not allowed to quote from an article based on former Army chief M M Naravane's unpublished memoir regarding the India-China conflict of 2020.