Indian Parliamentary Delegation Participates Effectively in 153rd IPU Assembly in Tanzania

The 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held from October 5 to 9, 2026, in Arusha, Tanzania, has concluded. An Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Mr. Harivansh, continued its participation through the fifth and final day of the assembly.

As a member of the delegation, Deputy Chairman Mr. Harivansh attended the meeting of the IPU Governing Council, where critical agenda items such as reports from special meetings and the election of the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union were considered. During the election process, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Mr. Harivansh, Lok Sabha MP Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur, and Lok Sabha MP Mrs. Kamaljeet Sahrawat cast the three votes allocated to India. Following a secret ballot, Mr. Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia, was declared elected as the new President of the IPU.

Following the election results, Mr. Harivansh and other members of the Indian delegation congratulated Mr. Milton Dick and wished him a successful tenure. On this occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra also presented a congratulatory letter to Mr. Dick on behalf of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

After the Governing Council meeting, the assembly adopted the 'Arusha Communiqué' and proposals presented by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights. These proposals included topics such as parliamentary strategies for the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities, as well as urgent parliamentary action to address climate-related disasters in the Himalayan and other sensitive regions.

The conclusion of the assembly was announced by His Excellency Mr. Musa Azan Zungu, Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania and President of the Assembly. The participation of the Indian delegation in this assembly was effective, contributing significantly to the resolutions and outcomes of the IPU.