Bhubaneswar, April 2: The Congress may not have the requisite numbers to get the Assembly Speaker removed from office, but its notice will be taken up for consideration on Wednesday.

To get the motion admitted, the Congress needs support of 28 MLAs. Although the party has 27 MLAs, one of their members will not be able to take part in the proceedings because of ill health. It has the backing of one Independent MLA, but it will need one more member.

The BJP, which has six members and the support of one Independent member, is yet to make its intention clear. “We will decide on the floor of the House tomorrow when the motion is moved,” said its legislature party leader Jayanarayan Mishra.

When the motion will be taken up for consideration, Speaker Pradip Amat will not be presiding over the House according to parliamentary norms and practice.

The Congress has issued a whip to its members to remain present in the House tomorrow. The BJD has also issued a similar whip to the party MLAs to remain present in the House tomorrow.

The Speaker can be removed from the office by a resolution of the Assembly passed by a majority. The BJD has 108 members in the 147-member Assembly.

The rules of the Assembly procedures provide that the removal resolution cannot be discussed if it is not supported by at least 28 members.

Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said: “We are aware of our strength in the House. If the resolution is put to vote, it will be lost. But, we want to send a message to the people. Let the people know the manner in which the Speaker is conducting the House at the behest of the ruling party.”

BJD deputy chief whip Sanjay Kumar Dasburma said the ruling party was ready to face a discussion on the issue.