Laxmikanth: Summary of Chief Minister Notes | Study Indian Polity for UPSC CSE - UPSC

Introduction

The governor is the head of the state while the Chief Minister is the head of the government.

Appointment of Chief Minister

• The Constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister. Article 164 only says that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor, the governor has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the state legislative assembly as the Chief Minister. 
• But, when no party has a clear majority in the assembly, then the governor may exercise his personal discretion in the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister.
  
  

Powers and Functions of Chief  Minister

1. In Relation to the Council of Ministers 
(i) The governor appoints only those persons as ministers who are recommended by the Chief Minister.

(ii) He presides over the meetings of the council of ministers and influences its decisions.

(iii) He guides, directs, controls, and coordinates the activities of all the ministers.

2. In Relation to the Governor 
The Chief Minister enjoys the following powers in relation to the governor: 

• He is the principal channel of communication between the governor and the council of ministers.
  It is the duty of the Chief Minister:
  (i) To communicate to the Governor of the state all decisions of the council of ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation.
  (ii) To furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation as the governor may call for.
• He advises the governor with regard to the appointment of important officials like advocate general, chairman and members of the state public service commission, state election commissioner, and so on.

3. In Relation to State Legislature 

• He advises the governor with regard to the summoning and proroguing of the sessions of the state legislature. 
• He can recommend the dissolution of the legislative assembly to the governor at any time. 
• He announces the government policies on the floor of the house.

➢ Other Powers and Functions 

• He is the chairman of the State Planning Board.
• He acts as a vice-chairman of the concerned zonal council by rotation, holding office for a period of one year at a time. 
• He is a member of the Inter-State Council and the National Development Council, both headed by the prime minister. 
• He is the chief spokesman of the state government. 
• He is the crisis manager-in-chief at the political level during emergencies. 
• As a leader of the state, he meets various sections of the people and receives memoranda from them regarding their problems, and so on. 
• He is the political head of the services.