What are MPs and MLAs in India?

Who are MPs and MLAs in India?

MLAs are Members of the Legislative Assembly that voted into the system through direct elections in their respective constituencies. Each constituency has one single candidate representing it in the assembly. Only an MLA can work as a minister for a tenure longer than 6 months. If a person who is not an MLA becomes a Chief Minister/Minister, they must become an MLA within the period of 6 months to remain in office. Only an MLA can be a Speaker of the Legislature.

MPs are Members of Parliament that are voted in through direct and indirect elections to both houses of the bicameral parliamentary system that India follows, namely Lok Sabha (the lower house) and Rajya Sabha (the upper house). 

• The MPs in the Lok Sabha are elected through direct elections, using adult suffrage. The permitted maximum number of members in the Lok Sabha is 550. 
  • Out of this 550, 530 are elected directly from states and constituencies and (upto) 20 come from the Union Territories. 
  • 2 seats are reserved for the people from the Anglo-Indian community. 
  • The elected strength is 543. 
  • The Lok Sabha is responsible for selecting the Prime Minister of the country from a coalition or party that has a majority. 
  • The Lok Sabha is not a permanent body and can be dissolved. 
• The MPs in the Rajya Sabha are indirectly elected by the electoral college formed by the members of the State Legislature. 
  • The number of members in the Rajya Sabha is less than that of the Lok Sabha 
  • Their powers are restricted as well. 
  • The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved. A third of its strength retires every 2 years and new members are elected by the electoral college and Presidential nomination. 

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