POWERS AND DUTIES OF CHIEF MINISTER

The Chief Minister is the state government's most powerful official. He is the head of the State Council of
Ministers and the real executive head of state government. He wields enormous power and is a key
figure in the state. The Constitution makes no mention of a specific procedure for selecting and
appointing the Chief Minister. According to Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor appoints
the Chief Minister. It also mentions that there shall be a Council of Ministers along with the Chief
Minister, to assist and advise the governor. After the Legislative Assembly election, the task of forming
the government begins. The party with the most votes in the Legislative Assembly ( Vidhan Sabha) has
the right to form the government. The governor must appoint the leader of the majority party in the
state legislative assembly as chief minister, regardless of his Preferences. Ministers are appointed based
on the Chief Minister’s recommendations. The Chief Minister may be a member of either of the two
Houses of a state legislature. The CM's position is paramount in the State's governmental system. In
practice, his position will only be imposing if his party has a clear majority in the State Legislature. When
there is a coalition government, it is more difficult to uphold the principle of collective responsibility. In
that case, much of the Chief Minister's time and energy will be wasted on keeping his team united and
disciplined. The Chief Minister is the primary spokesperson for a state's government. He is the
Governor's chief advisor, the leader of the majority party in the state legislature, and the most powerful
leader of his party. He is the official representative of the entire state. Normally, he has vast powers of
appointment and promotion, and the Governor always seeks his advice. The Chief Minister is the chief
architect of the state government's policies. He is in charge of the state administration. His position in
the state is comparable to that of the Prime Minister in the centre. The Chief Minister communicates all
policies and decisions to the people of the state through the media. He holds regular or periodic press
conferences in which he/she informs the citizens of the state about how the government is working.
Budgetary Powers: The Chief Minister, along with the Finance
Minister, plays a crucial role in the preparation and presentation
of the state budget. They oversee the allocation of resources and
expenditure priorities in line with the government's policies and
objectives.
Representative of the State: The Chief Minister represents the
state government in its dealings with the central government,
other states, and international entities. They participate in inter-
state councils, conferences, and other forums to advocate for the
interests of the state.
Crisis Management: During times of crisis, such as natural
disasters or emergencies, the Chief Minister assumes a leadership
role in coordinating relief and rescue efforts, ensuring public
safety, and managing the state's response.
Appointment and Removal: The Chief Minister recommends the
appointment of key officials, such as the state's Governor,
members of state commissions, and heads of state-owned
corporations. They also have the authority to remove ministers
from the Cabinet.
Constituency Representation: While serving as the head of the
government, the Chief Minister also represents their constituency
or electoral district. They are accountable to their constituents
and responsible for addressing their concerns and grievances.