Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar described legislatures as the “temples of democracy,” where debates mirror people’s aspirations and demonstrate the performance of elected representatives. He was speaking at the 11th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Conference in Bengaluru, during a session on “Legislatures Building Public Trust and Fulfilling Public Aspirations.”

The Speaker emphasized that the primary duty of elected representatives is to serve as the voice of the people. He stressed that debates in legislatures must remain constructive, not only benefiting citizens but also ensuring the framing of fair and effective laws.

Highlighting Telangana’s efforts in this direction, Prasad Kumar noted that the state legislature has been proactive in encouraging meaningful discussions by providing members adequate time to raise public issues. He recalled that several Assembly sessions even continued until midnight to allow exhaustive debates on people’s concerns—demonstrating the institution’s commitment to democracy.

He added that orientation and training programs for new members were organized in Telangana, enabling them to understand Assembly rules and utilize their allotted time effectively. Transparency was identified as a key factor in winning public confidence, with the live telecast of Assembly proceedings cited as a crucial initiative.

Proposing reforms, he suggested fixing a mandatory number of sittings annually, organizing regular training for legislators, enforcing stricter disciplinary rules, and fostering cooperation between state legislatures to exchange best practices.