An Indian Parliamentary Delegation led by Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, is attending the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa from 12 to 19 September 2026. The delegation includes members from both houses of Parliament and representatives from state and union territory legislatures across India.
Who is attending and what they are doing
The delegation comprises six members of Parliament: Shri C. Sadanandan Master and Shri P. C. Mody from the Rajya Sabha, and Dr. D. Purandeswari, Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti and Smt. Rachna Banerjee from the Lok Sabha. Additionally, 32 Presiding Officers and 18 Secretaries representing State and Union Territory legislatures are participating as members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Soon after arriving in Cape Town, Shri Harivansh held bilateral meetings with South African parliamentary leaders including Angela Thokozile Didiza (Speaker of the National Assembly), Poobalan Govender (Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces) and Annelie Lotriet (Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly). These discussions focused on matters of shared parliamentary interest and strengthening India-South Africa legislative relations.
Dr. D. Purandeswari represented India at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive Committee meeting, presenting the country’s position on various CPA matters. During the conference, six major workshops will address contemporary issues facing Commonwealth legislatures. Shri Harivansh will deliver an address to the General Assembly on the theme of new leadership opportunities and parliamentary action to strengthen democracy and international law.
What this means for you
This conference allows Indian lawmakers to engage with legislators from across the Commonwealth on shared democratic values and legislative practices. The meetings and workshops provide forums to discuss issues relevant to Parliament and state legislatures, potentially influencing policy discussions back home. India’s participation demonstrates its commitment to parliamentary cooperation within Commonwealth nations and reflects ongoing efforts to deepen ties with South Africa and other democracies through legislative exchange.