Dharamshala to Host Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference on June 30–July 1

Dharamshala, June 21, 2025: The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha will host the prestigious annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region-II on June 30 and July 1, 2025, at the Vidhan Sabha complex in Tapovan, Dharamshala. This was announced by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, who chaired a preparatory meeting with district administration and senior officials at Tapovan today.
India Region-II of the CPA comprises five states: Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi. Presidents of Legislative Assemblies from all six states have been invited as special guests for the two-day event, which will focus on the theme:
“Good Governance in the Digital Age: Management of Resources, Protection of Democracy and Adoption of Innovation.”
Three key topics have been selected for discussion during the conference:
June 30: “Role of Legislature in Management of State Resources vis-à-vis State Development”
July 1 (Morning): “Provision of Disqualification on Grounds of Defection under the Tenth Schedule (Article 102 & 191)”
July 1 (Afternoon): “Use of Artificial Intelligence in Legislative Assemblies”
The conference will be inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker and CPA India Region President Shri Om Birla on June 30. The valedictory session on July 1 will be presided over by Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.
Distinguished leaders attending the conference include: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu; Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Dr. Harivansh Narayan Singh; Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur; Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan; and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
All members of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, as well as Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from the state, have been invited to participate. Delegates are expected to arrive in Dharamshala on June 29.
Speaker Pathania emphasized that this is the first time the CPA India Region-II annual conference is being held at Tapovan, calling it a significant moment for both the state legislature and the town of Dharamshala, already a well-known destination on the national and international tourism map.
To enhance civic engagement and transparency, the Vidhan Sabha complex will be opened to tourists on July 2, following the conclusion of the conference. An action plan has been prepared to facilitate this move, aiming to promote legislative awareness among the public.
Preparations for the event are in full swing, with instructions issued for seamless coordination in areas such as law and order, protocol, traffic management, and hospitality for guests. The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Secretariat and district administration are jointly managing the arrangements.
Senior officials present at today’s review meeting included:
Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania,Divisional Commissioner R.K. Paruthi, IGP Abhishek Dullar, Vidhan Sabha Secretary Yashpal Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa, SSP Shalini Agnihotri, Municipal Commissioner Zafar Iqbal and  Legislative Assembly Chief Spokesperson Hardayal Bhardwaj
Speaker Pathania expressed confidence that the conference would prove to be a landmark event in the democratic and legislative journey of the region.