View source for State legislative assemblies of India

{{short description|Lower house (or only house) of an Indian state, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, or Pondicherry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{for|the upper house|State legislative councils of India}}
{{Politics of India}}
The '''State Legislative Assembly''', also known as the '''Vidhan Sabha''' or the '''Saasana Sabha''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Vidhan Sabha |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/vidhan+sabha |work=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |publisher=[[Harper Collins]] |date=2014 |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-date=2 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302005312/https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Vidhan+Sabha |url-status=live }}</ref> is a legislative body in each of the states and certain [[Union territory|union territories]] of [[India]]. [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|Members of the legislative assembly]] are often directly elected to serve five year terms from [[Single-member district|single-member constituencies]]. A legislative assembly may be [[dissolution of parliament|dissolved]] in a [[State of Emergency in India|state of emergency]], by the [[Governor (India)|governor]] on request of the [[Chief Minister (India)|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">{{cite web |title=Constitution of India |url=https://www.india.gov.in/sites/upload_files/npi/files/coi_part_full.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425183923/https://www.india.gov.in/sites/upload_files/npi/files/coi_part_full.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |work=[[Government of India]]}}</ref>{{rp|page=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.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=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 [[Parliament of India|Indian parliament]] for one year at a time.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=85}} The [[Governor (India)|Governor]] of the respective state shall convene the assembly periodically, with no more than six months gap between consecutive sessions.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=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.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=86}} 

The state legislature has the power to enact laws concerning state subjects as defined in the constitution.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=95}} The union territories which have a legislature have certain restrictions in terms of these powers.<ref name="UT">{{cite web|url=https://knowindia.india.gov.in/profile/union-territories.php|title=Union territories|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</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 bill]]s. 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"/>{{rp|page=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.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=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.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=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.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=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 (India)|chief minister]] and her/his [[Cabinet (government)|council of ministers]] must [[cabinet collective responsibility|collectively]] resign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/58692/1/cabinet_responsibilty_motions_of_confidence.pdf|title=Motions of confidene|work=[[Parliament of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=27 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227054901/https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/58692/1/cabinet_responsibilty_motions_of_confidence.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Members ==
{{main|Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)}}

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"/>{{rp|page=82}} However an exception may be granted via an [[List of Acts of the Parliament of India|act]] of the [[Parliament of India|Indian parliament]] and is the case in the states of [[Goa Legislative Assembly|Goa]], [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly|Sikkim]], [[Mizoram Legislative Assembly|Mizoram]] and the union territory of [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly|Puducherry]] which have fewer than 60 members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unacademy.com/content/clat/study-material/legal-reasoning/state-legislative-assembly/|title=State legislative assembly|work=[[Unacademy]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=3 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250503135113/https://unacademy.com/content/clat/study-material/legal-reasoning/state-legislative-assembly/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) is directly elected from [[Single-member district|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"/>{{rp|page=82}} A few assemblies have nominated members such as the case of [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Jammu and Kashmir]] and Puducherry. To become a [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|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 procedure]]s against him or her.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=85}} 

After the election of a member, he/she is expected to take an oath of affirmation.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=91}} The members are paid salaries and allowances as fixed by the respective assemblies.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=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.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=91}} Members of the assembly are exempt from any legal cases arising out of what has been said in the assembly.<ref name="COI"/>{{rp|page=94}}

== Legislative assemblies ==
{{Also|State governments of India}}
In [[States and union territories of India|28 states]] and three [[Union territory|union territories]], there is a [[Unicameralism|unicameral legislature]] which is the sole legislative body.<ref name="List">{{cite web|url=https://igod.gov.in/leg/L004/organizations|title=List of state assemblies|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="UT"/> In six states, the legislative assembly is the [[lower house]] of their [[Bicameralism|bicameral legislature]] with the [[upper house]] being the [[State legislative councils of India|State Legislative Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-state-legislative-councils-of-india-1621860426-1|title=Legislative Council of India|work=[[Jagran Prakashan]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=24 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124191403/https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-state-legislative-councils-of-india-1621860426-1|url-status=live}}</ref> Five union territories are governed directly by the [[Government of India|union government]] and have no legislative body.<ref name="UT"/>

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"style="font-size: 90%"
|+List of legislative assemblies<ref name="List"/>
! Legislative assembly !! Seat(s) !! No. of members<ref name="ECI">{{cite web|title=Terms of the Houses|url=https://www.eci.gov.in/term-of-the-houses|access-date=28 August 2022|work=[[Election Commission of India]]|archive-date=7 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250807185225/https://www.eci.gov.in/term-of-the-houses|url-status=live}}</ref>
!colspan=2|Ruling party<ref name="Party"/> !! Current term
|-
|[[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Andhra Pradesh]]
|[[Amaravati]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly|175]]
|{{Full party name with color|Telugu Desam Party}}
|[[16th Andhra Pradesh Assembly|16th]]
|-
|[[Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Arunachal Pradesh]]|| [[Itanagar]]|| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly|60]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[11th Arunachal Pradesh Assembly|11th]]
|-
|[[Assam Legislative Assembly|Assam]] || [[Dispur]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Assam Legislative Assembly|126]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[15th Assam Assembly|15th]]
|-
| [[Bihar Legislative Assembly|Bihar]] || [[Patna]] 
|align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Bihar Legislative Assembly|243]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Janata Dal (United)|dab=y}}
|[[18th Bihar Assembly|18th]]
|-
| [[Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly|Chhattisgarh]]
| [[Raipur]]|| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly|90]]
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[6th Chhattisgarh Assembly|6th]]
|-
| [[Delhi Legislative Assembly|Delhi]] || [[New Delhi]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Delhi Legislative Assembly|70]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[8th Delhi Assembly|8th]]
|-
| [[Goa Legislative Assembly|Goa]] || [[Panaji]] 
| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Goa Legislative Assembly|40]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[8th Goa Assembly|8th]]
|-
| [[Gujarat Legislative Assembly|Gujarat]]
| [[Gandhinagar]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly|182]]
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[15th Gujarat Assembly|15th]]
|-
| [[Haryana Legislative Assembly|Haryana]] || [[Chandigarh]]|| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Haryana Legislative Assembly|90]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[15th Haryana Assembly|15th]]
|-
| [[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Himachal Pradesh]]|| [[Shimla]] {{small|(summer)}}<br/ >[[Dharamshala]] {{small|(winter)}}
| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly|68]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|[[14th Himachal Pradesh Assembly|14th]]
|-
| [[Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|Jammu and Kashmir]]
|| [[Srinagar]] {{small|(summer)}}<br />[[Jammu]] {{small|(winter)}}|| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly|95]]{{efn|name=JK|Five nominated members}} 
|{{Full party name with color|Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}
|[[13th Jammu and Kashmir Assembly|13th]]
|-
| [[Jharkhand Legislative Assembly|Jharkhand]] || [[Ranchi]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly|81]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Jharkhand Mukti Morcha}}
|[[6th Jharkhand Assembly|6th]]
|-
| [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly|Karnataka]]
|| [[Bangalore]] {{small|(summer)}}<br>[[Belgaum]] {{small|(winter)}}||align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly|224]]
|{{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|[[16th Karnataka Assembly|16th]]
|-
| [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala]] || [[Thiruvananthapuram]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Kerala Legislative Assembly|140]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|[[15th Kerala Assembly|15th]]
|-
| [[Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Madhya Pradesh]] || [[Bhopal]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly|230]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[16th Madhya Pradesh Assembly|16th]]
|-
| [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Maharashtra]] || [[Mumbai]] {{small|(summer)}}<br/ >[[Nagpur]] {{small|(winter)}}
| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|288]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[15th Maharashtra Assembly|15th]]
|-
| [[Manipur Legislative Assembly|Manipur]] || [[Imphal]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Manipur Legislative Assembly|60]] 
|{{Full party name with color|President's rule}}
|[[12th Manipur Assembly|12th]]
|-
| [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly|Meghalaya]] || [[Shillong]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly|60]] 
|{{Full party name with color|National People's Party (India)}} 
|[[11th Meghalaya Assembly|11th]]
|-
| [[Mizoram Legislative Assembly|Mizoram]] || [[Aizawl]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly|40]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Zoram People's Movement}}
|[[9th Mizoram Assembly|9th]]
|-
| [[Nagaland Legislative Assembly|Nagaland]] || [[Kohima]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly|60]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Naga People's Front}}
|[[14th Nagaland Assembly|14th]]
|-
| [[Odisha Legislative Assembly|Odisha]] || [[Bhubaneshwar]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Odisha Legislative Assembly|147]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[17th Odisha Assembly|17th]]
|-
| [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly|Puducherry]] || [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly|33]]{{efn|name=Pudu|Three nominated members}} 
|{{Full party name with color|All India N.R. Congress}}
|[[15th Puducherry Assembly|15th]]
|-
| [[Punjab Legislative Assembly|Punjab]] || [[Chandigarh]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Punjab Legislative Assembly|117]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Aam Aadmi Party}} 
|[[16th Punjab Assembly|16th]]
|-
| [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|Rajasthan]] || [[Jaipur]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|200]] 
|{{Full party name with color | Bharatiya Janata Party }}
|[[16th Rajasthan Assembly|16th]]
|-
| [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly|Sikkim]] || [[Gangtok]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly|32]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Sikkim Krantikari Morcha}}
|[[11th Sikkim Assembly|11th]]
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]] || [[Chennai]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|234]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|[[16th Tamil Nadu Assembly|16th]]
|-
|[[Telangana Legislative Assembly|Telangana]] || [[Hyderabad]] ||align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Telangana Legislative Assembly|119]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|[[3rd Telangana Assembly|3rd]]
|-
| [[Tripura Legislative Assembly|Tripura]] || [[Agartala]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Tripura Legislative Assembly|60]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[13th Tripura Assembly|13th]]
|-
| [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Uttar Pradesh]] || [[Lucknow]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|403]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[18th Uttar Pradesh Assembly|18th]]
|-
| [[Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly|Uttarakhand]]|| [[Bhararisain]] {{small|(summer)}}<br>[[Dehradun]] {{small|(winter)}}|| align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly|70]] 
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|[[5th Uttarakhand Assembly|5th]]
|-
| [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly|West Bengal]] || [[Kolkata]] || align="center" | [[List of constituencies of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly|294]] 
|{{Full party name with color|All India Trinamool Congress}}
|[[17th West Bengal Assembly|17th]]
|-
! Total 
!{{em dash}}
!4,131
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | {{em dash}} 
|}
{{Notelist}}

=== By ruling party ===
<!--This section is transcluded on State Governments of India-->
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">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtvprofit.com/nation/full-list-of-chief-ministers-in-india-2025-bjp-rules-14-states-and-union-territories|title=Full List Of Chief Ministers In India 2025: BJP Rules 14 States And Union Territories|work=[[NDTV]]|access-date=1 April 2025|archive-date=20 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220132059/https://www.ndtvprofit.com/nation/full-list-of-chief-ministers-in-india-2025-bjp-rules-14-states-and-union-territories|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Current ruling alliances in Indian states and union territories 2025.png|thumb|300px|Colour-coded map of India showing the current governments in its various states:
{{legend|#FF9A30|[[National Democratic Alliance]] (20)}}
{{Legend|#00C0FF|[[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|INDI Alliance]] (8)}}
{{Legend|#DE5757|Others (2)}}
{{legend|brown|[[President's rule]] (1)}}
{{legend|#515151|[[Union territory|No legislature]] (5)}}]]
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"style="font-size: 90%"
|+List by ruling party<ref name="Party"/>
!colspan=2|Ruling party 
!States/UTs
|-
! colspan="3" |[[National Democratic Alliance]] (20)<ref>{{cite web|date=19 July 2023|title=The 38 parties in the NDA fold|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/38-parties-nda-8848786/|access-date=1 August 2023|work=[[The Indian Express]]|archive-date=14 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814005655/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/38-parties-nda-8848786/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|14
|-
|{{Full party name with color|All India N.R. Congress}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Janata Dal (United)}} 
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Naga People's Front}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|National People's Party (India)}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Sikkim Krantikari Morcha}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Telugu Desam Party}}
|1
|-
! colspan="3" |[[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] (8)<ref>{{cite web|date=19 July 2023|title=Opposition's push for a new name explained|url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/india-from-upa-oppositions-push-for-a-new-name-explained-11689748617775.html|access-date=25 July 2023|work=[[Live Mint]]|archive-date=25 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725074244/https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/india-from-upa-oppositions-push-for-a-new-name-explained-11689748617775.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|3
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}} 
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Jharkhand Mukti Morcha}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Trinamool Congress}}
|1
|-
! colspan="3" |Others (2)
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Aam Aadmi Party}}
|1
|-
|{{Full party name with color|Zoram People's Movement}}
|1
|-
! colspan="3" |President’s rule (1)
|-
|{{Full party name with color|President's rule}}
|1
|-
|}

=== Defunct assemblies ===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"style="font-size: 90%"
! Assembly
! Seat
! Period active
! Abolished by
|-
| [[Ajmer Legislative Assembly|Ajmer]]
|| [[Ajmer]] || 1950–1956 ||  rowspan="2"|[[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]]
|-
| [[Bhopal Legislative Assembly|Bhopal]]
|| [[Bhopal]] || 1949–1956 
|-
| [[Bombay Legislative Assembly|Bombay]]
|| [[Bombay]] || 1950–1960 || Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960
|-
| [[Coorg Legislative Assembly|Coorg]]
|| [[Madikeri|Mercara]] || 1950–1956 || rowspan="3"|[[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]]
|-
| [[Hyderabad Legislative Assembly|Hyderabad]]
|| [[Hyderabad]] || 1948–1956 
|-
| Madhya Bharat
|| [[Gwalior]]|| 1948–1956 
|-
| [[Madras Legislative Assembly|Madras]]
|| [[Madras]] || 1947–1969 || Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 
|-
| [[Mysore Legislative Assembly|Mysore]]
|| [[Mysore]] || 1947–1973 || Mysore State (Alteration of Name) Act of 1973
|-
| [[Patiala and East Punjab States Union Legislative Assembly|PEPSU]]
|| [[Patiala]] || 1948–1956 || rowspan="4"|[[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]]
|-
| Saurashtra
|| [[Rajkot]] || 1948–1956 
|-
| [[Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly|Travancore-Cochin]]
|| [[Trivandrum]] || 1949–1956 
|-
| Vindhya Pradesh
|| [[Rewa, Madhya Pradesh|Rewa]] || 1948–1956 
|}

== See also ==
*[[Central Legislative Assembly]]
*[[Lok Sabha]]
*[[Rajya Sabha]]
*[[State governments of India]]
*[[State legislature (India)|State Legislature]]
*[[List of Indian state legislative assembly elections]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in/ Legislative Bodies in India] website

{{Legislatures of India}}
{{Current Indian assemblies}}
{{Elections in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:State Legislative Assembly}}
[[Category:State legislatures of India|*]]
[[Category:State lower houses in India| ]]