India's multi-party delegations to participate at UNGA in October

Two multi-party parliamentary delegations comprising 30 MPs and headed by two former Union Ministers will represent India at 80th United Nations General Assembly, a move aimed to send a message to the international community that the country stands united on critical international issues.

The first group, led by BJP MP P P Chaudhary, will attend the Assembly from October 8 to 14, while the second, headed by another ruling party MP Daggubati Purandeswari, will participate from October 27.

The idea is to familiarise the MPs with the functioning of the UN, multilateralism and various global issues that will enable the lawmakers to equip them with knowledge necessary for participating in debates. This tradition of MPs participating at the UNGA was revived in 2024 after a gap of eight years.

Both groups include members from the opposition parties and attempts were made to ensure representation of all major political players in terms of MPs in Parliament.

This time not diplomats but elected parliamentarians hailing from different ideologies, regions and cultures, would represent India in UNGA, a call taken by the Centre to send out the message to the global community of political unity in India on international issues.

These Non-Official Delegations provide MPs with a platform to engage in UN sessions, interact with India’s Permanent Mission, and represent India’s democratic ethos abroad. It also signals India’s intention to restore this lost practice and strengthen parliamentary participation in international diplomacy.

The first group of MPs led by BJP's PP Chaudhary includes Anil Baluni, Captain Brijesh Chowta, Nishikant Dubey Ujjawal Deora Nikam, S Phangon Konyak, Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Poonam Ben Maadam all from the ruling party.

Besides them, Kumari Selja Vamsi Krishna Gaddam and Vivek Tankha from main opposition party Congress). T Sumathy from DMK and NK Premchandran from (Revolutionary Socialist Party), both opposition parties.

And Sribharat Mathukumilli (TDP) an ally of ruling BJP.

While the second group is led by D Purandeswari from BJP and includes Vishnu Datt Sharma, Bhola Singh, Dilip Saikia, Saumitra Khan and Rekha Sharma also from the ruling party.

Sajda Ahmed (TMC) P. Wilson (DMK),Niranjan Bishi (BJD), Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD), Sandeep Pathak (AAP) all from opposition parties are also in this group.

Besides them PV Mithun Reddy (YSRCP), Indra Hang Subba (SKM), Joyanta Basumatary (UPPL) and GK Vasam TMC (M), are also part of the second group.

The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly aims to promote global cooperation, peace, and sustainable development, aligning with the theme “Better Together “80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights.