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The Vidhan Sabha (Hindi: विधान सभा) or the Legislative Assembly is the lower house (in states with bicameral) or the sole house (in unicameral states) of the provincial (state) legislature in the different states of India. The same name is also used for the lower house of the legislatures for two of the union territories, Delhi and Pondicherry. The upper house in the six states with a bicameral legislature is called the Legislative Council, or Vidhan Parishad. Members of a Vidhan Sabha are direct representatives of the people of the particular state as they are directly elected by an electorate consisting of all adult citizens of that state. Its maximum size as outlined in the Constitution of India is not more than 500 members and not less than 60. However, the size of the Vidhan Sabha can be less than 60 members through an Act of Parliament, such is the case in the states of Goa, Sikkim and Mizoram. The Governor can appoint 1 member to represent the Anglo-Indian community if he or she finds that community to not be adequately represented in the House.

Each Vidhan Sabha is formed for a five year term after which all seats are up for election. During a State of Emergency, its term may be extended past five years or it may be dissolved. It can also be dissolved if a motion of no confidence is passed within it against the majority party or coalition.

Qualifications required to become a member[link]

To become a member of a Vidhan Sabha, a person must be a citizen of India, not less than 25 years of age.^[1] He should be mentally sound and should not be bankrupt. He should also state an affidavit that there are no criminal procedures against him. Speaker of Vidhan Sabha who is responsible for the conduct of business of the body, and also a Deputy Speaker to preside during the Speaker's absence. The Speaker acts as a neutral judge and manages all debates and discussions in the house. Usually he is a member of the stronger political party

A Vidhan Sabha holds equal legislative power with the upper house of state legislature, the Vidhan Parishad ('Legislative Council'), except in the area of money bills in which case the Vidhan Sabha has the ultimate authority. If conflicting legislation is enacted by the two Houses, a joint sitting is held to resolve the differences.

Special powers of the Vidhan Sabha[link]

A motion of no confidence against the government in the state can only be introduced in the Vidhan Sabha. If it is passed by a majority vote, then the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers must collectively resign.

A money bill can only be introduced in Vidhan Sabha. After it is passed in the Vidhan Sabha, it is sent to the Vidhan Parishad, where it can be kept for a maximum time of 14 days. Unless a by the Finance Minister of the state in the name of the Governor of that state.

In matters related to ordinary bills, after it is passed by the originating house (that is either Vidhan Sabha or Vidhan Parishad) it is sent to the other house, where it can be kept for a maximum period of 6 months time. If the other house rejects the bill or 6 months pass or the suggestions made by the other house is not acceptable to the originating house, it results in a situation of deadlock. This is resolved by the Governor by calling a joint session of both houses which is presided over by the speaker of the Vidhan Sabha and decided by a simple majority. Since the Vidhan Sabha has greater numerical strength, it is in a position of advantage unless fractured by many different parties.

List of Vidhan Sabhas[link]

See also[link]

• State Assembly elections in India
• Vidhan Parishad
• Politics of India

References[link]

External links[link]

• Legislative Bodies in India, website
• Laws of India : A website to download laws made by different states
• Punjab Vidhan Sabha Election Results 2012

v t e Presidential elections in India 1952 1957 1962 1967 1969 1974 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

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Bikram Singh (born 1980/1981) is an American bhangra music artist. A graduate of Touro Law School, he also works as an attorney in New York City.^[1]

Early years[link]

Singh emigrated from Punjab, India, to Queens, New York when he was twelve years old. He quickly entered the local music scene, debuting his tracks at an open mic night in Greenwich Village. Singh began exploring the boundaries between Punjabi folk lyricism and Asian Underground electronica, and he teamed up with New York's DJ Navdeep to record the underground hit "Aa Gayee". Singh performed with Panjabi MC at Summerjam 2003, when he sang "Beware of the Boys" for a crowd of over 20,000. Since then, Singh has toured all over Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

The 2004 mix-tape Exclusives ^[2] included a collaboration with Global Soul recording artist Shakti to produce "Do the Thang Thang," which played on New York radio stations Hot 97 and Power 105. Also on the album were the Tigerstyle-produced hits "Taakre" and "Nachna".

Singh's latest album, American Jugni, has spent several weeks on the top of the BBC Asian Bhangra charts. Singh brought in two major Bhangra producers, Tigerstyle and Ravi Bal, to work on the album. In 2005, American Jugni was the best-selling album in the UK and the track "Kawan", which featured vocal talents of Gunjan (a well established female Hindi/Punjabi singer) was named by BBC radio as the track of the year.

In 2007, Singh linked up with producer and hip hop extraordinaire Wyclef to create a track on DJ Rekha’s (Basement Bhangra) upcoming Koch Records release. Rekha had actually asked Bikram a while back to do a track for the album and the vocals sat there over the years and nothing materialized for a while. But with the album release finalized, Rekha rekindled the record this year and asked him to re-do the vocals on the track in collaboration with Wyclef. And well, the rest is history! The ‘Basement Bhangra Anthem’ was finally born!

In 2011, Singh performed on Das Racist's "Punjabi Song" from their album Relax. He sings the hook, entirely in Punjabi.

The band[link]

Bikram Singh and the band consists of a drummer, tabla player, dholki player, dhol player, a bass guitarist, and a keyboardist. Bikram Singh has been performing with a band for the past 7 years. These musicians are some of the best in the world, having played alongside award winning singers and producers including A.R. Rahman (India), Panjabi MC (UK), Tigerstyle (UK) and many more. It’s a power packed performance with Bikram Singh singing some of the most traditional folk cover songs along with his high energy original tracks from his recent albums.

Tour destinations[link]

Below are some of the cities and countries Bikram has taken his show to:

• United Kingdom:- London, Birmingham, Leicester, Leeds...
• Switzerland: Basel, Zurich.
• Norway: Oslo & Drammen.
• Denmark: Copenhagen.
• Germany: Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt.
• Thailand: Bangkok.
• Costa Rica: San Juan.
• Puerto Rico: San Jose.
• India: Bombay, Delhi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar.
• Canada: Toronto, London, Edmonton.
• Singapore.

In addition, Bikram Singh has performed numerous times in the United States in the following States: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Michigan (Detroit, Lansing), Florida (Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale), Pennsylvania (State College, Philadelphia, Easton, Allentown) Massachusetts (Boston, MIT) Virginia, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Minnesota (Minneapolis), Indiana (West Lafayette, Indianapolis), Georgia (Atlanta), Illinois (Chicago), Ohio (Columbus), North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas (Houston, Dallas), Nevada (Las Vegas), Arizona, California (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Yuba City, San Diego, Colusa) and more.

Discography[link]

Title: BIK I AM

• Artist: Bikram Singh
• Label: Sony BMG Ent. / Soldier Sound Recordings/ Inar Records
• Production: Tigerstyle, Ranbir S., Twin Beats, Mentor, DDS - Ecamp,
• Release Date: November 24, 2011

Tracks: 1. Kinna Sohna Munda - Bikram Singh 2. Beyonce - Bikram Singh 3. Tenu Kinne Sikhaya - Bikram Singh & Premi Johal 4. Electro Love Boliyan - Bikram Singh feat. Ranbir S. 5. Nachengi - Bikram Singh 6. Mere Naal Nach - Bikram Singh feat. Twin Beats 7. Mein Na Avanga - Bikram Singh 8. Sohni Lagdi - Bikram Singh 9. Just For A Dance - Bikram Singh feat. Bellringer, Mentor, Pramanik 10. Naina'ch Sharab - Bikram Singh 11. Ghar Aja Ve Mahi - Bikram Singh & Jyoti Gill 12. Yaari - Bikram Singh 13. Jaaniye - Bikram Singh feat. PropheC 14. Mere Naal Nach (Remix) Bikram Singh feat. DDS

Title: Tip Top

• Artist: Bikram Singh
• Label: Vip Urban UK / Angel Records India
• Production: Tigerstyle
• Release Date: December 16, 2008
• Tracks:

1. Naagni 2. Aashiqan De Dil 3. Ik Waari Aaja (ft Gunjan) 4. Gidhian Di Rani 5. Akhiyan’ch Tu Vasdi (ft Josh) 6. Tip Top Putt Jatt Da 7. Telephone 8. Solwa Saal 9. Mein Boli Punjabi 10. Dil Sanu De Mutiyare 11. Pehle Tor Di Sharaab 12. Ik Waari Aaja (Bandish Projekt “Come Back” Remix)

Title: American Jugni

• Artist: Bikram Singh
• Label: Vip Urban UK / Universal Music India
• Production: Tigerstyle
• Release Date: December 21, 2005
• Tracks:

1. American Jugni - Bikram Singh 2. Kawan - Gunjan & Bikram Singh 3. Akh Nagni - Bikram Singh 4. Bhabi Munda Lambran Da - Bikram Singh 5. Chaklo Gandasay - Bikram Singh 6. Kei Katal Hongay - Bikram Singh 7. Sada Dil - Bikram Singh 8. Kushian De Dhol - Bikram Singh 9. Luggian - Bikram Singh 10. Chaklo Gandasay (Remix) - Bikram Singh

Title: Exclusives from Bikram Singh

• Artist: Bikram Singh
• Label: Anamika Records
• Production: Tigerstyle
• Release Date: January 3, 2003

References[link]

• http://www.bikramsingh.com
• http://www.punjabonline.com
• http://www.punjab2000.com
• http://www.desimusic.com

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Universal Music India profile