Explainer: Amidst political crisis in Maharashtra; know what powers Chief Minister of state hold?

New Delhi: Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance government under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray is facing troubles. Discussions are going around that with the government falling sooner or later, who will become the next chief minister. Though Uddhav Thackeray is confident enough to save his government, it seems next to impossible at this point.

Owing to the political crisis in the state, the Chief Minister’s post and government formation are at stake. Currently, there are many contestants for the post of the next Chief Minister. Moreover, Maharashtra is considered to be one of India’s largest and politically crucial states for all national parties. Considered the home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, the state also has the Bollywood industry and some of the country’s largest industries and is thus considered to be the richest state.

How much power a chief minister enjoys?

Indian Constitution defines Chief Minister as the electoral head of the Council of Ministers in the state. Though the ‘Governor’ is considered to be the real head of the state, Chief Minister beholds the actual executive powers. Governor is regarded as the ceremonial head while Chief Minister is considered to be the actual head of the state.

With the Westminister model of constitutional democracy, the Chief Minister looks after the day-to-day functioning of the state government. For the daily functioning of the government, Chief Minister is always attended to and assisted by a council of ministers including cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, and others.

The council of ministers is appointed by the Chief Minister and administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor. The powers and functions enjoyed by the Chief Minister of the state are within the restricted jurisdiction of the concerned state and are the same as that of the Prime Minister of India.

Chief Minister is known to exercise the executive power of the state government. Their powers reside in forming a council of ministers, to elect members of their own party for particular ministries within the working of the state. The main council of ministers is called the cabinet, whose members are decided by the Chief Minister.

Various ministers and their works are allotted by the Chief Minister. However, if any of the ministers fail to work, they are removed from their ministerial posts by the Chief Minister. Besides, the Chief Minister of the state acts as the spokesperson of the government.

Additionally, the Chief Minister plays an important role in the state’s financial matters, including a budget, basic infrastructure and developmental priorities of the state, financial planning as well as economic development of the state among others. Also, he acts as the chairman of the State Planning Commission.