State legislative assemblies of India
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:For Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The State Legislative Assembly, also known as the Vidhan Sabha or the Saasana Sabha,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="COI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp The Governor of the respective state shall convene the assembly periodically, with no more than six months gap between consecutive sessions.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp
The state legislature has the power to enact laws concerning state subjects as defined in the constitution.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp The union territories which have a legislature have certain restrictions in terms of these powers.<ref name="UT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp
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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Members
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The Constitution of India states that a legislative assembly must have no less than 60 members and a maximum of 500 members.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp
After the election of a member, he/she is expected to take an oath of affirmation.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp The members are paid salaries and allowances as fixed by the respective assemblies.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp 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.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp Members of the assembly are exempt from any legal cases arising out of what has been said in the assembly.<ref name="COI"/>Template:Rp
Legislative assemblies
Template:Also In 28 states and three union territories, there is a unicameral legislature which is the sole legislative body.<ref name="List">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="UT"/> In six states, the legislative assembly is the lower house of their bicameral legislature with the upper house being the State Legislative Council.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Five union territories are governed directly by the union government and have no legislative body.<ref name="UT"/>
By ruling party
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is in power in 20 legislative assemblies; the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is in power in eight legislative assemblies; two legislative assemblies are ruled by two other parties and one legislative assembly is under the President's rule.<ref name="Party">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Ruling party | States/UTs | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| National Democratic Alliance (20)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 14 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (8)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 3 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Others (2) | |||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| Template:Full party name with color | 1 | ||
| President’s rule (1) | |||
| Template:Full party name with color | 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
External links
- Legislative Bodies in India website
Template:Legislatures of India Template:Current Indian assemblies Template:Elections in India