The powers and functions of the Chief Minister can be studied under the following heads:
In Relation to Council of Ministers
The Chief Minister enjoys the following powers as head of the state council of ministers:
(a) The governor appoints only those persons as ministers who are recommended by the Chief
Minister.
(b) He allocates and reshuffles the portfolios among ministers.
(c) He can ask a minister to resign or advise the governor to dismiss him in case of difference of
opinion.
(d) He presides over the meetings of the council of ministers and influences its decisions.
(e) He guides, directs, controls and coordinates the activities of all the ministers.
(f) He can bring about the collapse of the council of ministers by resigning from office. Since the
Chief Minister is the head of the council of ministers, his resignation or death automatically
dissolves the council of ministers. The resignation or death of any other minister, on the other
hand, merely creates a vacancy, which the Chief Minister may or may not like to fill.
In Relation to the Governor
(a) He is the principal channel of communication between the governor and the council of
ministers.(Article 167) 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; and
(iii) if the governor so requires, to submit for the consideration of the council of ministers any
matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but which has not been
considered by the council.
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; and
(iii) if the governor so requires, to submit for the consideration of the council of ministers any
matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but which has not been
considered by the council.
(b) 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.
In Relation to State Legislature
The Chief Minister enjoys the following powers as the leader of the house:
(a) He advises the governor with regard to the summoning and proroguing of the sessions of the
state legislature.
(b) He can recommend the dissolution of the legislative assembly to the governor at any time.
(c) He announces the government policies on the floor of the house.
Other Powers and Functions
(a) He is the chairman of the State Planning Board.
(b) He acts as a vice-chairman of the concerned zonal council by rotation, holding office for a
period of one year at a time. (Union home minister is the chairman of all the zonal councils.)
(c) He is a member of the Inter-State Council and the National Development Council, both headed
by the prime minister.
(d) He is the chief spokesman of the state government.
(e) He is the crisis manager-in-chief at the political level during emergencies.
(f) As a leader of the state, he meets various sections of the people and receives memoranda from
them regarding their problems, and so on.
(g) He is the political head of the services.
Thus, he plays a very significant and highly crucial role in the state administration. However, the
discretionary powers enjoyed by the governor reduces to some extent the power, authority, influence,
prestige and role of the Chief Minister in the state administration.
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