IndiaPosted at: Oct 22 2026 7:19PM


Vijender Gupta releases commemorative issue on Vithalbhai Patel’s parliamentary legacy

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Thursday said India’s parliamentary independence was asserted even before the country attained freedom, recalling the contribution of Veer Vithalbhai Patel in establishing the principles of legislative autonomy and accountability during British rule.
Gupta made the remarks while releasing a special commemorative edition of the Assembly’s quarterly magazine Vidhan Chetna, titled Veer Vithalbhai Patel Smarananjali Ank, on the 93rd death anniversary of the first elected Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly. The event was held at the historic Old Secretariat, where the Speaker, accompanied by Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht and other dignitaries, paid floral tributes at Patel’s statue.
“India’s parliamentary independence was asserted long before Independence itself. Veer Vithalbhai Patel demonstrated that even under colonial rule, the authority of the legislature could not be subordinated to the will of the government, and that the dignity of the Chair must remain beyond political pressure,” Gupta said.
Describing Patel as a pioneer of India’s parliamentary traditions, the Speaker said his tenure helped establish conventions of impartiality, procedural discipline and independence of the presiding officer. Patel’s command over parliamentary procedure, he added, strengthened the principle that the executive must remain accountable to elected representatives.
Born on September 27, 1873, Patel died in Geneva on October 22, 1933. His public life included serving as Mayor of the Bombay Municipal Corporation before becoming a prominent figure in the country’s legislative and freedom movements.
Gupta highlighted the historical significance of the Old Secretariat, constructed in 1912, which served as the venue for an important phase of India’s early central legislative proceedings. Patel entered the Imperial Legislative Council in 1918, was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1924 and again in 1926, and served as its President from 1925 to 1930.
The Speaker said the building witnessed Indian representatives challenge colonial authority through constitutional debate and legislative action. He stressed that the principles of an independent Chair, informed deliberation and adherence to parliamentary procedures remained essential for institutional accountability and public trust.
The programme also included students visiting the Assembly under its Youth Outreach Programme, aimed at familiarising young people with the country's legislative institutions and democratic traditions.
Interacting with the students, Gupta said the future of democracy depended on informed and engaged citizens. He urged them to understand constitutional values, respect diverse viewpoints and learn about the contributions of leaders who helped shape India’s parliamentary institutions.
He said the commemorative edition would serve as a resource for younger generations to understand Patel’s life and contribution to legislative democracy. The Speaker also recalled the Assembly Secretariat’s publication of the coffee-table book Shatabdi Yatra: Veer Vithalbhai Patel last year, reaffirming the Assembly’s efforts to preserve the legacy of the parliamentary pioneer.
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