Subhash Mahajan
Chamba: In a grand and ceremonial display, the TapoVan complex in Dharamshala has been beautifully adorned ahead of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone II Annual Conference, scheduled for June 30 and July 1. The venue resembles a bride, signifying the importance and prestige of the event—the first time the conference is being hosted in Dharamshala.
Speakers from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh have already arrived in the hill town via air travel to attend the gathering. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh has also reached Dharamshala, while Lok Sabha Speaker and CPA India Region Chairman Om Birla is expected to arrive at Gaggal Airport on the morning of June 30 to inaugurate the event at 10 a.m.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will address the audience during the inauguration ceremony. The conference, considered historic for the region, will see participation from 178 delegates, including the Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Leaders of Opposition, Chief Whips, Deputy Chief Whips, and Members of Legislative Assemblies from eight Indian states.
Himachal Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, who is also the convener for the participating states—Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir—stated that the central theme of the conference is:
“Good Governance in the Digital Era: Managing Resources, Defending Democracy, and Embracing Innovation.”
The two-day event will feature three key sessions. On June 30, after the inaugural ceremony, the first session will discuss:
- “The Role of Legislatures in Managing State Resources in Comparison to Development Goals.”
On July 1, two more sessions will be held:
- “Disqualification on Grounds of Defection under Articles 102(2) and 191(2) as per the Tenth Schedule,” and
- “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Legislative Assemblies.”
The conference will conclude on July 1, with Governor of Himachal Pradesh Shiv Pratap Shukla presiding over the closing ceremony. Addresses will also be delivered by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar will deliver the vote of thanks.
Secretaries of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, along with secretaries of participating state assemblies, will also attend. All preparations for the landmark conference are complete.
