Chief Minister: Role, Powers, and Appointment in State Governance

The Chief Minister: Role, Powers, and Appointment

The Chief Minister is the elected head of the state government.

Appointment of the Chief Minister

The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor. The Governor appoints the leader of the majority party as the Chief Minister of the State.

If there is no clear majority or in the case of a coalition government, the Governor may exercise personal discretion to appoint the leader of the largest party. Such a leader must seek a vote of confidence in the House within one month.

Term and Dismissal of the Chief Minister

The Chief Minister is elected for a term of five years. Upon the expiry of this term, his position automatically ends.

He can resign or be dismissed on grounds of a no-confidence motion even before the five-year term concludes.

Key Roles of the Chief Minister

• Leader of the State Legislative Assembly

  As the chief spokesperson of the state government, he explains government policies and the internal policies of the state. His decision is final regarding state matters. He is responsible to the Legislative Assembly for the actions of the Council of Ministers.

• Leader of the Council of Ministers

  The Chief Minister selects his Council of Ministers. If the Chief Minister resigns, the entire Council of Ministers is bound to resign. He is responsible for maintaining unity and integrity among the members of the Council of Ministers. He monitors and coordinates between different departments of the ministry.

• Chief Adviser to the Governor

  Generally, the Governor exercises all functions based on the aid and advice of the Chief Minister. It is the Chief Minister's duty to communicate all decisions of the Council of Ministers to the Governor.

• Leader of the Majority Party or Alliance

  He leads the party both within and outside the assembly. He ensures that the image, popularity, integrity, and discipline of the party are maintained.

Powers and Functions of the Chief Minister

• Formation of the Council of Ministers

  He has the power to form a ministry of his choice and select his ministers.

• Distribution and Change of Portfolios

  After appointment, an important function is to distribute portfolios among the Council of Ministers. He decides the cabinet ministers and allocates departments accordingly. He has the power to change ministerial departments and can even ask any minister to quit a department or resign from the ministry.

• Chairman of the Council of Ministers

  He presides over cabinet meetings, prepares the agenda, and calls for meetings.

• Main Link Between Governor and Council of Ministers

  It is his duty to communicate all cabinet decisions to the Governor.

• Role as Chief Coordinator

  The Chief Minister has the primary responsibility of coordinating the work of all government departments. He ensures that all ministers work as a team and support each other. He resolves conflicts and deadlocks between departments.

• Role as Leader of the State Legislative Assembly

  The Chief Minister is the leader of the State Legislative Assembly. He leads the house effectively, acts as the spokesperson for the government, and makes all important government announcements.

• Appointment-Making Process

  All major appointments and promotions are made by the Governor based on the aid and advice of the Chief Minister.

• Power to Dissolve the State Legislature

  The Chief Minister has the right to advise the Governor to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly if he finds that the government cannot function in accordance with the Constitution or if he is likely to lose the majority. This advice is binding on the Governor.

• Other Significant Roles

  He is the Chairman of the State Planning Board and the political head of state services. He is also a member of the Inter-State Council and the National Development Council.