It varies based on the population of the state.
Explanation
The composition of the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) in Indian states is governed by Article 170 of the Constitution of India. This article mandates that members of the Legislative Assembly are chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies within the state.
Detailed Analysis
The Constitution does not assign a fixed, uniform number of seats to every State Legislative Assembly. Instead, the strength of the assembly is determined based on the following principles:
- Population Basis: The number of seats is allocated based on the population of the state. The objective is to ensure that the ratio between the population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it remains uniform throughout the state.
- Constitutional Range: Article 170 stipulates that a State Legislative Assembly shall consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members.
- Exceptions: While the general minimum strength is 60, the Parliament has made exceptions for certain smaller states. For example, the Legislative Assemblies of Sikkim (32), Goa (40), and Mizoram (40) have fewer than 60 members.
Therefore, the specific number of directly elected members is not fixed at 100, 200, or 543 (which is the strength of the Lok Sabha), but varies relative to the demographic size of the specific state.
Key Takeaway: The strength of a State Legislative Assembly varies based on the state's population, constrained by a constitutional maximum of 500 and a general minimum of 60 members.