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The chief minisTer

The Chief minister occupies a very important place in state administration as leader of the
State Council of Ministers. His powers, position and authority are more or less similar to
those of the Prime Minister of the country.

tErm anD aPPointmEnt

The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor of the State. Though the constitution is
silent about the manner of selection of Chief Minister, the governor appoints the leader of
the majority party in the Legislative Assembly as the Chief Minister. The Governor does so
according to political convenience and traditions of Parliamentary democracy. In case, no
party commands comfortable majority in the Assembly, the Governor allows sometime to
the political parties to settle between themselves the possibility of forming the government.
If they reach some sort of agreement to form a government in alliance, he appoints its leader
as the Chief Minister. If the parties fail to reach an understanding, he either recommends
for President’s Rule or keeps the Assembly suspended to further explore the possibilities
of forming a government. After appointing the Chief Minister, the Governor gives formal
approval to the list of ministers to be included in the Council of Ministers.

PowErs anD Functions oF thE chiEF ministEr

• The Chief Minister is the real head of the state.
• He/She distributes portfolios to the ministers of the state Council of Ministers.
• He/She supervises the work of the entire Council of Ministers.

• He/She can exclude and include anybody in Council of Ministers.
• He/She is responsible for the success or failure of the government.
• He/She presides over the meetings of the cabinet and the Council of Ministers and
communicates all decisions taken to the Governor.

• Resignation by the Chief Minister is treated as the resignation of the entire Council
of Ministers.
council of minisTers

The Council of Ministers which has been provided by the constitution to aid and assist
the Governor, consists of the Chief Minister and other ministers. While the Chief Minister
is appointed by the Governor, the other members are appointed by the governor on the
advice of the Chief Minister.

Any person can be appointed as a minister but he ceases to be a minister if he is not
elected as a member of the State Legislature within six months after his appointment as a
Minister. The Council of Minister is collectively responsible to the Vidhan Sabha.

PowErs anD Functions oF thE council oF ministErs
• The Council of Ministers is the real executive body of the state. Each department in
the state government is headed by a Cabinet Minister or Minister of State. It is his/
her responsibility to run the administration of the department smoothly.

Social Studies-7 107