Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
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| Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly |
| House type | Unicameral |
| Body | Tamil Nadu Legislature |
| Leader1 type | Governor |
| Leader1 | R. N. Ravi |
| Election1 | 2021 |
| Leader2 type | Speaker |
| Leader2 | M. Appavu |
| Election2 | 2021 |
| Leader3 type | Chief Minister |
| Leader3 | M. K. Stalin |
| Election3 | 2021 |
| Leader4 type | Deputy Speaker |
| Leader4 | K. Pitchandi |
| Election4 | 2021 |
| Leader5 type | Leader of the Opposition |
| Leader5 | Edappadi K. Palaniswami |
| Election5 | 2021 |
| Members | 234 |
| Political groups1 | Government (159), DMK (133), INC (18), VCK (4), CPI(M) (2), CPI (2), Opposition (75), AIADMK (66), BJP (4), PMK (5), Others (4), Ind. (2), Vacant (2) |
| Term length | 5 years |
| Voting system1 | First-past-the-post voting |
| Last election1 | 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election |
| Next election1 | 2026 |
| Meeting place | Assembly Chamber, Fort St. George, Chennai |
| Website | www.assembly.tn.gov.in |
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It convenes at the historic Fort St. George in Chennai and comprises 234 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) elected from single-member constituencies. The assembly is central to the state's governance, wielding powers to enact laws on subjects in the State List and Concurrent List under the Constitution of India.
History
The origins of the legislature trace back to the Madras Legislative Council established under the Government of India Act 1919. The first Madras Legislative Assembly was constituted in 1937 following the Government of India Act 1935, with C. Rajagopalachari serving as the first Chief Minister of Madras State. After Indian independence, the assembly continued under the Republic of India, with the state renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969. The body has been dominated by Dravidian parties, notably the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), since the 1967 election which ended the rule of the Indian National Congress.
Structure and composition
The assembly operates as a unicameral house, with no upper chamber, following the abolition of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council in 1986. Its 234 members are led by a Speaker, currently M. Appavu, who presides over proceedings. The Council of Ministers, headed by the Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, is collectively responsible to the assembly. The principal opposition is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami of the AIADMK.
Powers and functions
The assembly holds primary law-making authority for Tamil Nadu on subjects enumerated in the State List, such as public health, agriculture, and law and order. It also legislates on Concurrent List matters like education and forestry, subject to Parliamentary supremacy. Key functions include approving the state budget, scrutinizing the executive through question hour and parliamentary committees, and participating in the election of the President of India and Rajya Sabha members representing the state.
Elections and constituencies
Members are elected for a five-year term through a first-past-the-post system from geographically delimited constituencies. The Election Commission of India oversees the process, with the most recent being the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. The Delimitation Commission of India periodically reviews constituency boundaries. Notable constituencies include Hosur, Chepauk, and Sivaganga.
Current assembly
The 16th Legislative Assembly, constituted after the 2021 election, is governed by a Secular Progressive coalition led by the DMK. The ruling alliance includes the Congress, the VCK, and left parties like the CPI(M). The principal opposition is the AIADMK, with smaller parties like the BJP and the PMK also represented. The assembly is currently chaired by Speaker M. Appavu.
Notable legislation
The assembly has enacted several landmark laws reflecting Tamil Nadu's socio-political landscape. These include the pioneering Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act, 2002, the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009 concerning the traditional sport, and the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical and Dental Courses Act which instituted a reservation policy. Other significant acts govern liquor prohibition, labour rights, and financial establishment regulations.
Category:Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Category:Unicameral legislatures Category:State legislatures of India