Every Indian state has a Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), the popularly elected lower house whose members are directly chosen by the people, with a normal term of five years counted from its first sitting after a general election.

The Governor is the constitutional head of the state, and under Article 174 of the Constitution the Governor holds the power to summon and prorogue the House and to dissolve the Legislative Assembly.

Dissolution before the completion of the full five-year term is therefore exercised by the Governor. Normally this is done on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, but the Governor may act at discretion when the ministry has lost its majority and no alternative government can be formed.

Considering the wrong options: the Chief Minister only tenders advice to the Governor and cannot himself dissolve the House. The Speaker merely presides over the sittings of the Assembly and maintains order; the office carries no power of dissolution.

The President dissolves the Lok Sabha at the Union level under Article 85, not a state Assembly, so that power does not extend to a Vidhan Sabha in the ordinary course.

Therefore, a state Legislative Assembly can be dissolved before its term ends by the Governor.