International - India & World   

India steps up bid for top post

P.S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: As the 51st conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) began in the Fijian town of Nadi on Tuesday, India stepped up its campaign for the prestigious post of Chairman of the CPA Executive Committee.

A straight contest for the post is scheduled to take place on Friday. The Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Hashim Abdul Halim, will face Geoffrey Henry, parliamentarian from the Cook Islands, for the top CPA post.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee led the campaign on behalf of Mr. Halim. According to an official in the Indian delegation, Mr. Chatterjee addressed a meeting of the Africa Region of the CPA and met the Chairperson of the Canada Region of the CPA, Sarmite Bulte. These interactions helped push Mr. Halim's candidature.

The theme of the ongoing CPA session is "Commonwealth Parliamentarians in partnership for global development."

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