A sitting MLA goes for MP and loses? Does he lose his MLA seat or will there be re-elections for that seat?

You're absolutely right. An MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) contesting and losing an MP (Member of Parliament) election does not impact their MLA seat. Here's a deeper explanation:

Separate Positions, Separate Elections:

India has a federal system of government, with power distributed between the central (national) government and state governments. MLAs represent their constituencies in their respective state legislative assemblies, while MPs represent their constituencies in the national Parliament (Lok Sabha for the lower house and Rajya Sabha for the upper house). These are distinct positions with independent electoral processes.

Losing an MP Election Doesn't Affect MLA Term:

Therefore, if an MLA contests and loses an MP election, their position and term in the state legislative assembly remain unaffected. They continue to serve their constituents at the state level and fulfill their duties as an MLA. There wouldn't be a by-election or any special requirement for them to resign from the MLA position simply because they contested the MP seat.

Exceptions to Consider:

It's important to note that while losing an MP election doesn't directly cause them to lose their MLA seat, there are a few exceptions to consider:

  • Voluntary Resignation: If the MLA chooses to resign from their state assembly seat to focus on contesting the national election (or for any other reason), then a by-election would be held to fill the vacant MLA seat.
  • Disqualification: There are certain situations where an MLA can be disqualified from holding office, such as criminal conviction or violation of electoral laws. If such disqualification occurs due to their actions, it would trigger a by-election for the MLA seat.

In essence, an MLA's participation (and subsequent loss) in an MP election is independent of their MLA role. They continue their duties in the state assembly unless they choose to resign or are disqualified for other reasons.