Rajasthan Assembly at 75: 26 veteran MLAs honoured at historic Amrit Mahotsav in Jaipur
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly marked its 75th anniversary on Wednesday, 15 July with a day-long Amrit Mahotsav in Jaipur, becoming the first state legislature in India to commemorate seven-and-a-half decades of parliamentary democracy with such a celebration. The event brought together constitutional dignitaries, sitting and former lawmakers, and members of Parliament on a single platform in what organisers described as a first-of-its-kind occasion in the country.
Key Dignitaries and the Day's Programme
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the celebrations at 10 am after arriving in Jaipur on Wednesday morning. The concluding session, scheduled for 4 pm, was attended by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan as chief guest, with Governor Haribhau Bagde and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma as distinguished guests.
Also sharing the stage were former Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje — a rare moment of bipartisan assembly under the same roof. The event drew 35 Members of Parliament — 25 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha — along with nearly 695 current and former MLAs.
Honouring Veteran Legislators
A central feature of the Amrit Mahotsav was the felicitation of 26 MLAs who have been elected to the Assembly six or more times, recognising their sustained contribution to public life and parliamentary democracy. Most of the honourees are over the age of 70, representing decades of legislative service across successive governments.
Landmark Laws Under the Spotlight
The celebrations also featured structured deliberations on 24 landmark legislations that have shaped Rajasthan's governance and development over the past 75 years. Sixteen current and former legislators participated in discussions on the significance and long-term impact of these historic laws, adding a substantive policy dimension to the commemorative event.
Logistics and Legacy
Special accommodation arrangements were made for attending legislators at the Circuit House, Dak Bungalow, MLA Guest House, and the Panchayati Raj Institute. The Rajasthan Assembly's decision to host this event positions it as a model for other state legislatures considering similar milestone commemorations. The gathering was widely seen as an effort to highlight the Assembly's democratic legacy while bridging generations of lawmakers on a common platform for the first time.