ECI to conduct biennial election to Maharashtra Legislative Council

May 1, 2020

On May 1, 2020, the Election Commission of India announced that it is to conduct biennial election for 9 vacant seats for the members of Legislative Council of the Maharashtra State Legislature.

Highlights

On April 24, 2020, 9 seats became vacant in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Hence, the Election Commission of India has issued orders to conduct elections under Article 324.

Article 324

The article superintendents and provides directions to the election Commission. The article gives powers to the election commission of India to conduct parliamentary and state legislature elections.

Under the article, the commission shall consist of a Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners if in need and may be appointed by the President from time to time.

The article empowers the President to appoint regional commissioners in consultation with the chief election commissioner.

Legislative Council

The Legislative Council is the upper house in a state legislature and is established under Article 169. Every member of the legislative council serves for 6 years. Hence, the terms of one-third of the state legislative council members expire every two years.

After bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, today, 6 out of 28 states have State Legislative Council.