Executive of the States

If you have a fundamental understanding of the Indian Polity and Constitution, you should be aware that the Indian Constitution’s makers adopted a federal system when drafting it. They suggested that the executive branch be divided into two parts: one for the state and the other for the nation. In this article, you will learn about the state’s executives.

The Chief Minister

The chief minister is the head of the government of the state. The governor of the state is the nominal head of the government while the real executive decision is being taken by the chief minister. As a result, you see the CM as the executive leader of the state.

Process of choosing a chief minister

The Indian Polity and Constitution makes no mention of the details of the chief minister’s selection. One thing is certain: the Chief Minister of a state is selected by the people of that state. The Chief Minister of the state is selected by the leader of the political party that receives the most votes. If no party obtains a majority, then the government gets to use its discretion and appoint a Chief Minister.

Main functions of the chief minister

The chief minister is the head of the state’s cabinet of ministers. As a result, his responsibilities are truly vast and cover a wide variety of departments of Indian Polity and Constitution. He plays a significant part in the entire state’s administration.

• He is the state’s true executive chief. The ministers are appointed by the governor of the state only on the advice of the chief minister. As a result, you can see that the actual power is in the hands of the chief minister

• The Chief Minister also recommends the portfolios or the designation allotted to the ministers by the governor

• All meetings are presided over by the chief minister. He directs how the cabinet will work and the coordination of the cabinet ministers for the efficient operation of the ministry

• The Chief Minister is required by the Indian Polity and Constitution to convey to the Governor all decisions of the Council of Ministers related to the administration and affairs of the State, as well as legislative initiatives

• The Chief Minister serves as the only point of contact between the Cabinet and the Governor. The Governor has the right to be notified of the Council of Ministers’ decisions by the Chief Minister

• It is the chief minister of the state who provides any information connected to the administrative activities of the state government or any legislative proposals that the Governor may request

The Council of the ministers

The Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers has a similar structure to the Central Council of Ministers in Indian Polity and Constitution. The Chief Minister presides over the state council. As you have read about the tasks of the chief minister, you are aware that they are appointed by the governor of the state on the advice of the chief minister.

In the council, there are three types of ministers:

• Cabinet Members

• State Ministers

• Ministers of State

The following are the primary functions of the Council of Ministers:

• The ministers are in charge of developing all the state government’s policies. However, they are passed only on the permission of the chief minister

• They make decisions on public health, employment, water storage, independent universities, land tenures, and so forth

• The finance minister delivers the state budget to the state legislature, which contains all receipts and expenditures for the upcoming financial year

• Only a Minister has the authority to introduce such a Bill, which must be approved by the Governor. When it comes to money, the Executive takes the initiative

Types of responsibilities

There are two sorts of accountability: group/collective responsibility and individual responsibility.

Collective responsibility

• According to Article 164, the council of ministers is collectively responsible to the state’s legislative assembly

• This means that all ministers have joint accountability for any omissions and commissions before the legislative assembly

• They work as a team and either sink or swim as a unit

• When the legislative assembly passes a no-confidence resolution against the council of ministers, all ministers, including those on the legislative council, must resign

Individual responsibility

• It is covered in article 165. The ministers, according to this, must serve at the governor’s pleasure

• This indicates that the governor has the authority to fire a minister if the council of ministers has the support of the legislative assembly

• The governor, once again, can only remove any minister with the advice and agreement of the chief minister; otherwise, he cannot

• If the chief minister is dissatisfied with a minister’s performance, he may ask him to resign or suggest the governor dismiss him

Conclusion

At the state level, the Governor, like the President, serves as a nominal leader, while the real powers are exercised and implemented by the Council of Ministers, which is led by the Chief Minister. Members of the State Council of Ministers are also collectively and individually accountable to the Lower House of the State Legislature for their actions of omission as well as commission. Let’s check out the details of The Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers.