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The State Legislative Assembly, also known as the Vidhan Sabha or the Saasana Sabha,[1] is a legislative body in each of the states and certain union territories of India. Members of the legislative assembly are often directly elected to serve five year terms from single-member constituencies. A legislative assembly may be dissolved in a state of emergency, by the governor on request of the chief minister of the respective state or union territory, or if a motion of no confidence is passed against the ruling majority party or coalition.
Definition and powers
As per the Constitution of India, where there is a unicameral legislature, the legislative body is termed as the legislative assembly.[2]: 82 In bicameral jurisdictions, there exists a State Legislative Council. The legislative assembly has the power to create or abolish the legislative council of the respective state or union territory by passing a resolution to that effect by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.[2]: 82 The term of a legislative assembly is fixed at five years unless it is dissolved prior to it. In certain cases such as an emergency of the state, the term can be extended by the Indian parliament for one year at a time.[2]: 85 The Governor of the respective state shall convene the assembly periodically, with no more than six months gap between consecutive sessions.[2]: 86 The assembly is presided over by a speaker, who shall be a member of the assembly and elected by the members of that constituent assembly.[2]: 86
The state legislature has the power to enact laws concerning state subjects as defined in the constitution.[2]: 95 The union territories which have a legislature have certain restrictions in terms of these powers.[3] In a bicameral legislature, a legislative assembly holds equal legislative power with the upper house of the state legislature, the State Legislative Council, in terms of passing of bills except in case of money bills. A normal bill can originate in any of the house, and is deemed to be passed only if it is cleared by both houses.[2]: 95 If a bill is passed by the legislative assembly, it should not be held for more than three months by the council. If the bill is sent back by the council, and is again passed by the assembly, the council is expected to act on it within one month.[2]: 95 If the time elapses or if it is sent back, the bill is deemed to have been passed with or without any amendments if any are made by the legislative assembly.[2]: 96 In case of money bills, it shall be introduced only in the assembly and the assembly can accept or reject the recommendations if any that are communicated from the council.[2]: 96
A motion of no confidence against the government in the state can only be introduced in the state legislative assembly. If it is passed by a majority vote, then the chief minister and her/his council of ministers must collectively resign.[4]
Members
The Constitution of India states that a legislative assembly must have no less than 60 members and a maximum of 500 members.[2]: 82 However an exception may be granted via an act of the Indian parliament and is the case in the states of Goa, Sikkim, Mizoram and the union territory of Puducherry which have fewer than 60 members.[5]
A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is directly elected from single-member constituencies, which are divided roughly equally based on the population of the region. The number of seats may be revised following a census by an act of the parliament.[2]: 82 A few assemblies have nominated members such as the case of Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry. To become a Member of Legislative Assembly, a person must be of minimum 25 years of age and be a citizen of India. He/she might not hold any other government office, and should declare the information required by the election commission including any criminal procedures against him or her.[2]: 85
After the election of a member, he/she is expected to take an oath of affirmation.[2]: 91 The members are paid salaries and allowances as fixed by the respective assemblies.[2]: 90 A member of the assembly may resign on his/her own accord. A member can also be disqualified if found to hold another office of profit in the government, is of no sound mind, has been declared insolvent, or ineligible by a court of law.[2]: 91 Members of the assembly are exempt from any legal cases arising out of what has been said in the assembly.[2]: 94
Legislative assemblies
In 28 states and three union territories, there is a unicameral legislature which is the sole legislative body.[6][3] In six states, the legislative assembly is the lower house of their bicameral legislature with the upper house being the State Legislative Council.[7] Five union territories are governed directly by the union government and have no legislative body.[3]
By ruling party
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is in power in 21 legislative assemblies; the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is in power in eight legislative assemblies while two legislative assemblies are ruled by two other parties [9]
| Ruling party | States/UTs | |
|---|---|---|
| National Democratic Alliance (21)[10] | ||
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 15 | |
| All India N.R. Congress | 1 | |
| Janata Dal | 1 | |
| Naga People's Front | 1 | |
| National People's Party | 1 | |
| Sikkim Krantikari Morcha | 1 | |
| Telugu Desam Party | 1 | |
| Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (8)[11] | ||
| Indian National Congress | 3 | |
| Communist Party of India | 1 | |
| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | 1 | |
| Jammu & Kashmir National Conference | 1 | |
| Jharkhand Mukti Morcha | 1 | |
| Trinamool Congress | 1 | |
| Others (2) | ||
| Aam Aadmi Party | 1 | |
| Zoram People's Movement | 1 | |
Defunct assemblies
| Assembly | Seat | Period active | Abolished by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajmer | Ajmer | 1950–1956 | States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Bhopal | Bhopal | 1949–1956 | |
| Bombay | Bombay | 1950–1960 | Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 |
| Coorg | Mercara | 1950–1956 | States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Hyderabad | Hyderabad | 1948–1956 | |
| Madhya Bharat | Gwalior | 1948–1956 | |
| Madras | Madras | 1947–1969 | Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 |
| Mysore | Mysore | 1947–1973 | Mysore State (Alteration of Name) Act of 1973 |
| PEPSU | Patiala | 1948–1956 | States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Saurashtra | Rajkot | 1948–1956 | |
| Travancore-Cochin | Trivandrum | 1949–1956 | |
| Vindhya Pradesh | Rewa | 1948–1956 |
See also
- Central Legislative Assembly
- Lok Sabha
- Rajya Sabha
- State governments of India
- State Legislature
- List of Indian state legislative assembly elections
References
- ^ "Vidhan Sabha". Collins English Dictionary. Harper Collins. 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Constitution of India" (PDF). Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "Union territories". Government of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Motions of confidene" (PDF). Parliament of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "State legislative assembly". Unacademy. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b "List of state assemblies". Government of India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Legislative Council of India". Jagran Prakashan. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Terms of the Houses". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 7 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Full List Of Chief Ministers In India 2025: BJP Rules 14 States And Union Territories". NDTV. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "The 38 parties in the NDA fold". The Indian Express. 19 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Opposition's push for a new name explained". Live Mint. 19 July 2023. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
External links
- Legislative Bodies in India website
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