PART VI
_128[170. Composition of the Legislative Assemblies.-THE STATES Chapter III.-The State Legislatur General (1) Subject to
the provisions of article 333, the Legislative Assembly of each State
shall consist of not more than five hundred, and not less than sixty,
members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in
the State. (2) For the purposes of clause (1), each State shall be divided into
territorial constituencies in such manner that the ratio between the
population of each constituency and the number of seats allotted to it
shall, so far as practicable, be the same throughout the State. _129[Explanation.-In this clause, the expression "population" means
the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which
the relevant figures have been published: Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding
census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until
the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2000
have been published, be construed as a reference to the 1971 census.] (3) Upon the completion of each census, the total number of seats in
the Legislative Assembly of each State and the division of each State
into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority
and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine: Provided that such readjustment shall not affect representation in the
Legislative Assembly until the dissolution of the then existing
Assembly:] _130[Provided further that such readjustment shall take effect from
such date as the President may, by order, specify and until such
readjustment takes effect, any election to the Legislative Assembly
may be held on the basis of the territorial constituencies existing
before such readjustment: Provided also that until the relevant figures for the first census
taken after the year 2000 have been published, it shall not be
necessary to readjust the total number of seats in the Legislative
Assembly of each State and the division of such State into territorial
constituencies under this clause.]
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