The Karnataka Legislature (Karnāṭaka Sāsakāṅga) is the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Karnataka.[1] It consists of two houses:
- the 75-member Karnataka Legislative Council (Vidhana Parishad), the upper house, and
- the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly (Vidhana Sabha), the lower house.
Karnataka Legislature Karnāṭaka Sāsakāṅga | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses |
|
| History | |
| Founded |
|
| Leadership | |
Thawar Chand Gehlot since 11 July 2021 | |
Leader of the House in Legislative Council | |
Vacant since 3 June 2026 | |
| Structure | |
 | |
Political groups | Government (37)
Opposition (37) Others (1)
|
 | |
Political groups | Government (136)
Official opposition (84) Other opposition (1)
|
| Elections | |
| Single transferable vote | |
| First past the post | |
First election | 1952 |
First election | 26 March 1952 |
Last election | 2024 |
Last election | 10 May 2023 |
Next election | 2026 |
Next election | May 2028 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India | |
 | |
| Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Belagavi, Karnataka, India (Winter session) | |
| Website | |
| Karnataka Legislature | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of India | |
The Governor of Karnataka is also a constituent part of the Legislature under the Constitution of India.[2] Karnataka is one of only six Indian states with a bicameral legislature, the others being Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.[3]
History
editOrigins: Mysore Representative Assembly (1881)
editThe origins of the Karnataka Legislature lie in the princely state of Mysore. On 29 March 1881, a decision to set up a Representative Assembly was taken by Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X. An order was issued by the Maharaja on 25 August 1881 for its constitution, and the first meeting of the Assembly was held on 7 October 1881.[4] It was the first representative assembly in any princely state in India, making Mysore a pioneer in democratic governance in the subcontinent.[5]
Formation of the upper house (1907)
editThe Karnataka Legislative Council was established on 6 March 1907 under Regulation I of 1907 as the legislative council for the princely state of Mysore. It formed the Kingdom's sole upper house, carved out of the existing Representative Assembly, which thereafter functioned as the lower house.[6] The Council initially consisted of not less than 10 and not more than 15 additional members nominated by the Government, of whom not less than two-fifths were required to be non-officials. In 1923, the strength of the Council was fixed at 50, with a decided non-official majority required.
Post-independence reorganisation
editThe Maharaja of Mysore issued a proclamation on 25 November 1949 and the Representative Assembly and the Council were dissolved on 16 December 1949. The Constituent Assembly of Mysore State became the Provisional Assembly of Mysore until elections were held under the Constitution of India. The first Assembly under the Constitution was constituted in 1952. Following the States Reorganisation Act, the new state of Mysore was significantly expanded along linguistic lines on 1 November 1956; the first sitting of the Assembly of the new state of Karnataka was held on 19 December 1956.[7] The state was renamed Karnataka on 1 November 1973, and the legislature took its current name accordingly.
Current session
editThe current 16th Karnataka Legislative Assembly was constituted following the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, in which the Indian National Congress won 135 out of 224 seats, securing a majority. The Second Siddaramaiah ministry was sworn in on 20 May 2023. Following an internal Congress power-sharing arrangement, D. K. Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister on 3 June 2026, succeeding Siddaramaiah.[8]
Meeting places
editVidhana Soudha, Bengaluru
editThe principal seat of the Karnataka Legislature is Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Completed in 1956 after four years of construction, it stands as one of India's largest and most imposing legislative structures, built primarily from local granite in a Neo-Dravidian architectural style that integrates elements of Dravidian, Indo-Islamic, and British influences.[9] The initiative originated under Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah during the early 1950s, with the foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 July 1951. Nehru called it "a temple dedicated to the nation".[10] The building covers over 60 acres and its famous inscription in Kannada, Sarkarada kelasa devara kelasa ("Government Work is God's Work"), was personally added by Hanumanthaiah.[11]
Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Belagavi
editThe winter session of the legislature is held at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, a Neo-Dravidian building that mirrors the architecture of Vidhana Soudha. Construction began in 2009 and the building was inaugurated on 11 October 2012 at a cost of ₹4 billion.[12] Its location in Belagavi, a city with a significant Marathi-speaking population close to the Maharashtra border, reflects the legislature's role in asserting Karnataka's territorial and cultural claims over the region.
Karnataka Legislative Assembly
editThe Karnataka Legislative Assembly (Vidhana Sabha) is the lower house of the Karnataka Legislature. It has 224 members directly elected from single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system by adult franchise.[13] Members serve five-year terms. A government must command the confidence of the Assembly to remain in office.
The current 16th Assembly, elected in May 2023, has its term running until May 2028. Following U. T. Khader's resignation as Speaker on 3 June 2026 to join the Shivakumar cabinet, the Speaker's post is currently vacant.[14]
Karnataka Legislative Council
editThe Karnataka Legislative Council (Vidhana Parishad) is the upper house of the Karnataka Legislature and a permanent body not subject to dissolution. It comprises 75 members with six-year terms, with one-third retiring every two years.[15] Of the 75 seats, 25 are elected by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly members, 25 are elected by local authorities, 7 are elected by graduates, 7 are elected by teachers, and 11 members are nominated by the Governor.
The Council serves as a revising chamber, able to delay but not ultimately block legislation passed by the Assembly. Unlike the Assembly, the Council has no role in a confidence vote; the government's survival depends solely on the Assembly.
Current officeholders
edit| Office | Leader's Image | Leader's Name | Party | Leader Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor |  |
Thawar Chand Gehlot | Non partisan | 11 July 2021 |
| Chief Minister |  |
D. K. Shivakumar | INC | 3 June 2026 |
| Deputy Chief Minister |  |
G. Parameshwara | INC | 3 June 2026 |
| Legislative Council | ||||
| Chairperson |  |
Basavaraj Horatti | BJP | 22 December 2022 |
| Deputy Chairperson |  |
M. K. Pranesh | BJP | 29 January 2021 |
| Leader of the House in Legislative Council | .jpg) |
N. S. Boseraju | INC | 3 July 2023 |
| Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council | Chalavadi Narayanaswamy | BJP | 23 July 2024 | |
| Legislative Assembly | ||||
| Speaker | Vacant | — | 3 June 2026 | |
| Deputy Speaker | Rudrappa Lamani | INC | 6 July 2023 | |
| Leader of the House in Legislative Assembly (Chief Minister) |
|
D. K. Shivakumar | INC | 3 June 2026 |
| Deputy Leader of the House in Legislative Assembly (Deputy Chief Minister) |
|
G. Parameshwara | INC | 3 June 2026 |
| Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly |  |
R. Ashoka | BJP | 17 November 2023 |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly |  |
Arvind Bellad | BJP | 25 December 2023 |
Sessions
editThe Karnataka Legislature meets in Bengaluru for most of the year. By convention, a winter session is held at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, typically in November–December. Under Article 174 of the Constitution of India, no more than six months may elapse between two successive sessions of the Assembly.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Krishnaswamy, K. S. (1993). "Karnataka's New Step Backwards". Economic and Political Weekly. 28 (18): 847–849. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4399668.
- ↑ "Article 168 of the Indian Constitution". Indian Kanoon. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "States with bicameral legislature in India". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly – History". Government of India. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Government of Mysore Act 1940 – History of Mysore's legislature". Constitution of India. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Karnataka Legislative Council – Wikipedia". Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly – History". Government of India. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Karnataka Leadership Transition: DK Shivakumar to be sworn in as CM today". ETV Bharat. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Vidhana Soudha – Wikipedia". Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Vidhana Soudha – History". Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Vidhana Soudha – Bengaluru Prayana". Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Suvarna Vidhana Soudha – Wikipedia". Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly – Wikipedia". Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "UT Khader set to become Minister in new Karnataka Cabinet as he quits as Assembly Speaker". Coastal Digest. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Karnataka Legislative Council – Wikipedia". Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Article 174 of the Indian Constitution". Indian Kanoon. Retrieved 3 June 2026.