West Bengal Legislative Assembly
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| West Bengal Legislative Assembly | |
|---|---|
| Name | West Bengal Legislative Assembly |
| House type | Unicameral |
| Body | West Bengal Legislature |
| Jurisdiction | West Bengal |
| Foundation | 01 April 1937 |
| Leader1 type | Speaker |
| Leader1 | Biman Banerjee |
| Party1 | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Election1 | 2021 |
| Leader2 type | Deputy Speaker |
| Leader2 | Asish Banerjee |
| Party2 | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Election2 | 2021 |
| Leader3 type | Chief Minister |
| Leader3 | Mamata Banerjee |
| Party3 | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Election3 | 2021 |
| Leader4 type | Leader of the Opposition |
| Leader4 | Suvendu Adhikari |
| Party4 | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Election4 | 2021 |
| Members | 294 |
| Political groups1 | Government (215), All India Trinamool Congress (215), Opposition (75), Bharatiya Janata Party (68), Indian National Congress (2), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (0), All India Forward Bloc (0), Revolutionary Socialist Party (0), Others (4), Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (1), Independent (1), Vacant (2) |
| Voting system1 | First-past-the-post voting |
| Last election1 | 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election |
| Meeting place | West Bengal Legislative Assembly building, Kolkata |
| Website | wbassembly.gov.in |
West Bengal Legislative Assembly. It is the unicameral state legislature of the Indian state of West Bengal, seated in its capital Kolkata. The Assembly, comprising 294 elected members, is housed in the historic West Bengal Legislative Assembly building near the Maidan. It is the primary law-making body for the state, operating within the framework of the Constitution of India.
History
The legislature traces its origins to the Bengal Legislative Council established under the Government of India Act 1919. The first elections were held in 1937 following the Government of India Act 1935, with the inaugural session convened in Calcutta. Post-independence and partition, it continued as the legislature for West Bengal. The Assembly has witnessed significant political shifts, from prolonged dominance by the Left Front led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and figures like Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, to the rise of the All India Trinamool Congress under Mamata Banerjee in 2011.
Structure and composition
The Assembly is a unicameral body with a maximum strength of 294 Members of Legislative Assembly elected from single-seat constituencies. Its proceedings are presided over by a Speaker, assisted by a Deputy Speaker, both elected from among the members. The Council of Ministers, headed by the Chief Minister, is collectively responsible to the Assembly. The principal opposition party appoints the Leader of the Opposition.
Functions and powers
The Assembly holds the constitutional authority to make laws on subjects in the State List and Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Its core functions include enacting the state budget, scrutinizing the executive through mechanisms like Question Hour and standing committees, and approving state taxation. The Assembly also participates in the election of the state's representatives to the Rajya Sabha.
Elections and constituencies
Members are elected through direct elections based on universal adult suffrage. The Election Commission of India oversees the delimitation of constituencies and the conduct of polls. Historically, elections have been fiercely contested between major alliances like the Left Front, the Indian National Congress, the All India Trinamool Congress, and, more recently, the Bharatiya Janata Party. Key electoral battles have occurred in regions like North Bengal, the Jangalmahal area, and the Sunderbans.
Current assembly and government
The current Assembly is the product of the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, which resulted in a decisive victory for the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. The Government of West Bengal is formed by the party, with Biman Banerjee serving as Speaker. The principal opposition is the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Suvendu Adhikari as the Leader of the Opposition. The Governor of West Bengal acts as the constitutional head of state.
Notable legislation and sessions
The Assembly has passed significant legislation, including the West Bengal Panchayat Act, the West Bengal University and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Act, and various land reform acts during the Operation Barga period. Special sessions have been convened to address critical issues, such as the Bishnupur by-election controversy and the Goods and Services Tax implementation. The annual Budget session and the Monsoon session are key parliamentary events.
Category:West Bengal Legislative Assembly Category:State legislatures of India Category:Unicameral legislatures