In four poll-bound states, Assembly sittings down, Rajasthan bucks trend somewhat

The current Rajasthan Assembly held 147 sittings, the highest since 1985-1990. But it was still lower than the sittings of Assemblies before that, except the sixth one. In MP, the Assembly sat for the second fewest days on record.

Written by Harikishan Sharma

New Delhi | October 10, 2023 02:09 PM IST

3 min read

assembly elections, rajasthan assembly elections, madhya pradesh, telangana, mizoram, chhattisgarh

The illuminated Rajasthan Assembly in Jaipur on the eve of the Independence Day this year. (Express File Photo by Rohit Jain Paras)

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An analysis of the Assemblies of four of the five states that will go to polls in November — Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana — shows they have had fewer sittings compared to previous ones.

The voters will elect their 16th Assemblies in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, ninth in Mizoram, sixth in Chhattisgarh, and third in Telangana. The terms of the current Assemblies are set to expire on December 17, 2023, in Mizoram; on January 3, 2024, in Chhattisgarh; on January 6, 2024; in Madhya Pradesh; on January 14, 2024, in Rajasthan; and on January 16, 2024 in Telangana.

Madhya Pradesh

The data shows that Madhya Pradesh’s current Assembly, which is its 15th, has held only 79 sittings — the second-lowest since 1956-’57, when the state’s first Assembly was elected. The state’s first Assembly had a very short lifespan, having met for only 16 days. The 11th Assembly (1998-2003) saw the highest number of sittings at 288. However, since then, there has been a considerable decline in the number of sittings.

Number of sittings in Madhya Pradesh Assembly

Rajasthan

Rajasthan’s current Assembly, its 15th, has held 147 sittings — the highest since the eighth Assembly (1985-1990). However, it is lower than all the earlier Assemblies before that, except the sixth (1977-1980) that met for 115 days. The lowest number of sittings (95) was recorded by the ninth Assembly (1990-1992) as the House was dissolved before it completed its term. The second Assembly (1957-1962) saw the most sittings at 306.

Number of sittings in Rajasthan Assembly

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000. Of the five Assemblies since then, the current Assembly (2019-2024) has seen the lowest number of sittings at 116. The highest number of sittings, at 182, was held by the second Assembly during 2003-2008.

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Number of sittings in Chhattisgarh Assembly

Telangana

The Telangana Assembly is the newest among the five poll-bound states. Since its formation on June 2, 2014, when it was carved out of Andhra Pradesh, the state has seen only two Assemblies. The first Assembly held 127 sittings during 2014-2019. However, the figure came down to 75 during the current Assembly.

Number of sittings in Telangana Assembly

Harikishan Sharma

Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister’s Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More

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Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023 Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 Political Pulse Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 Telangana Assembly Elections 2023