Lok Sabha Speaker Inaugurates CPA Zone-2 Conference in Dharamshala: CM Bats for Anti-Defection Law, Special Policy for Hill States.

Dharamshala:

The two-day annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region Zone-2, was inaugurated today at Tapovan, Dharamshala by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The event brought together parliamentary leaders including Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Chief Whips, and Deputy Chief Whips from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and other states across India, reinforcing the theme of democratic collaboration and legislative reform.

This is the first time that Himachal Pradesh is hosting the prestigious conference, with Speaker of H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, playing host. The conference also welcomed the presence of Speakers from Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana as special guests.

In his welcome address, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized the significance of the conference, calling it a vital step toward strengthening democratic institutions, promoting regional cooperation, and refining legislative processes.

Anti-Defection Law Crucial for Democracy: CM Sukhu

Highlighting recent political turbulence in Himachal Pradesh, CM Sukhu asserted that democracy had come under threat when an attempt was made to topple the elected government. “The Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha took a lawful and bold stance by disqualifying the MLAs involved,” he said, adding that the State Assembly had passed a Bill to stop the pensions of disqualified legislators, which is currently awaiting the Governor’s assent.

He termed the Anti-Defection Law as an essential safeguard for the democratic system and stressed the need to strengthen it further to deter unethical political practices.

Push for Separate Hill State Policy and Yearly By-Elections

CM Sukhu used the platform to reiterate the need for a separate central policy framework for hill states, citing the geographical challenges and the disproportionate impact of national policies like GST. “A nation can only progress when all its states grow equitably. The hill states require tailored developmental approaches,” he said.

He also supported the idea of conducting by-elections only once a year under the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ model, urging Speaker Om Birla to advocate for this reform at a national level.

Showcasing Himachal’s Legislative and Digital Leadership

Sukhu proudly noted that the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was the first in India to go completely paperless in 2014. The state, he said, has since emerged as a pioneer in digital governance.

Under the ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ initiative, ministers have reached over 1,000 Panchayats to directly interact with citizens, he added. He credited this outreach for the state’s improved performance in national indices — notably, Himachal secured 5th position in the NAS Survey 2025, a sharp rise from 21st in 2021, reflecting significant improvement in the education sector.

Major Governance and Development Initiatives

The Chief Minister outlined several flagship initiatives:

• Over 1.36 lakh government employees brought under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
• Around 3 lakh women receiving Rs. 1,500 monthly under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Bahna Samman Nidhi Yojana.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced for wheat, maize, and raw turmeric.
• Robotic surgery introduced in the state’s healthcare system.
• Strict action against drug trafficking through the HP Organized Crime (Prevention & Control) Bill, 2025, which includes provisions for capital punishment and property confiscation.
• Opening of the Shipki-La Pass (altitude 3,930 meters) for tourism to boost economic development in Kinnaur’s border region.

A Historic Moment for Himachal’s Legislature

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania welcomed the delegates and expressed pride in Dharamshala hosting the CPA Zone-2 conference for the first time. He highlighted the city’s two-decade-long association with the Winter Session of the Assembly and hoped the event would pave the way for more such high-profile gatherings.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan emphasized collective efforts to curb defections and praised the successful organization of the event.

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Dr. Harivansh Narayan Singh, AYUSH Minister Yadvinder Goma, and Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar also addressed the gathering. The presence of legislative representatives from several states underscored the spirit of democratic unity and collaboration.

The conference will continue tomorrow with technical sessions, inter-state discussions, and policy deliberations expected to shape future legislative strategies and reforms.