How a 1967 architectural masterpiece governs 230 elected members

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Housed in the imposing Vidhan Bhavan in Bhopal, the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly serves as the state's unicameral legislature. From its roots in the 1913 Central Provinces Legislative Council to its modern architectural significance, this institution reflects a complex history of state reorganization and political evolution.

The origins of the Madhya Pradesh legislature reach back to 8 November 1913, when the Central Provinces Legislative Council was established. Following the Government of India Act 1935, the first elections for the Central Provinces Legislative Assembly took place in 1937. The modern state of Madhya Pradesh emerged on 1 November 1956 through a significant reorganization, merging the erstwhile Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal states.

This reorganization merged several distinct legislative bodies: Madhya Bharat had 79 members, Vindhya Pradesh had 48, and Bhopal had 23. The resulting Vidhan Sabha initially held 288 seats, which later increased to 321, including one nominated member. However, the state's composition changed again on 1 November 2000, when Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, reducing the assembly's strength to 231 members, including one nominated member.

Today, the assembly is composed of 230 members directly elected from single-seat constituencies. To ensure representation, 35 seats are reserved for candidates from Scheduled castes, and 47 are reserved for Scheduled tribes. The legislative body meets in the Vidhan Bhavan in Bhopal's Arera Hill locality. Designed by architect Charles Correa in 1967, this building received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1998.

The assembly operates on a five-year term unless dissolved earlier. A landmark legislative event occurred on 4 December 2017, when lawmakers voted unanimously for a bill imposing capital punishment for raping children under 12.

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