Punjab Governor Shivraj V Patil said in his inaugural address at the 15th All India Whips Conference which began at Chandigarh today that in the Parliamentary form of Government, whips of various political parties are the vital links of the internal organisation of parties, inside the legislatures. He said that the efficient and smooth functioning of Parliament and State Legislatures depends to a considerable extent, upon the directions a whip issues to legislatures . Mr Patil, who is also a former Speaker of the Lok Sabha opined that the whips act as counselors to their members and advisors to the party leadership. He said that whips furnish all important information to the members and ensure their presence and participation in the House specially during important discussions and voting and play an equally important role in maintaining the standard of debate at a high level in the parliament and legislatures. He said that whips must know the psychology of people and legislatures as they are a link between common man and legislatures. The Governor said that thoughts emerging from discussion and deliberations will prove useful for all whips participating in the conference and will help them in performing their duties efficiently to run parliamentary system smoothly. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan and V Narayanasamy also addressed the delegates. The Conference is being presided over by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal.<br/>