Explained: Chief Minister's Powers In Current Maharashtra Political Situation

Maharashtra, the richest state in India, is undergoing intense political drama that threatens the stability of its government. A group of 38 parliamentarians, including powerful state minister Eknath Shinde, are sequestered in a hotel in the city of Guwahati in the far-off state of Assam in the northeast, thousands of kilometres away from Maharashtra.

They are members of the Shiv Sena party, which together with the Congress party and the local Nationalist Congress Party currently controls Maharashtra (NCP).Mr. Shinde, a longtime Shiv Sena member, asserts that he is representing his party's interests. However, his revolt has put the state's administration in danger of disintegrating.

The ongoing developments

Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance government, led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, is in turmoil. Discussions about who will lead the state after this administration falls to pieces are already in full swing. Even though Uddhav Thackeray is certain he can preserve his administration, the road ahead appears to be nearly impassable at this point.

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In the entire political situation, the position of Chief Minister and the formation of a government are at risk. There are numerous candidates vying to become the next chief minister under this situation. One of India's major states, Maharashtra is vital politically for all national parties. Mumbai, India's financial hub, as well as the Hindi film industry and some of the largest industries make it the richest state in the nation.

What are the powers of a Chief Minister?

The Chief Minister is the elected leader of the state's Council of Ministers, as per the Indian Constitution. The Chief Minister has the "real" executive authority even if the Governor is the recognised "head of state." The Governor is only the ceremonial head of state; the Chief Minister is the actual head of state..

Since India adopted the Westminster model of constitutional democracy, the Chief Minister is in charge of directing how the state government runs on a daily basis. In accordance with the Indian Constitution, a council of ministers made up of cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, and others assists the chief minister in day-to-day administration.

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The Governor administers the oath of office and confidentiality to each of them after their appointment by the Chief Minister. Within the boundaries of a state, the Chief Minister has the same authority and responsibilities as the Prime Minister of India.

The state government's executive branch is headed by the Chief Minister. They have the authority to create ministerial councils and choose members of their own party to serve in specific ministries related to how the government is run. The Chief Minister appoints the members of the cabinet, which is the principal council of ministers.

Ministers are sacked from their positions if the Chief Minister is unhappy with their performance. The primary spokesperson for a state's administration is the chief minister.

The Chief Minister plays a significant role in the budget, the state's fundamental infrastructure and developmental priorities, financial planning, the state's economic development, and other financial issues. He oversees the State Planning Commission and serves as its chairman.

The statute of collective responsibility

It is one of the most important aspects of our Constitution. Article 164 covers the issue of collective responsibility. The Article indicates that the council of ministers are collectively responsible to the state legislature. As a result, the legislative assembly will hold each minister jointly accountable for all their deeds, whether good and bad. It should be noted that all council ministers, including those in the Legislative Council, would have to resign after the legislative assembly passed a no-confidence motion against the council.

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The council of ministers can advise the governor to dissolve the legislative assembly on the ground that the House does not represent the views of the electorate faithfully and call for fresh elections. The governor may not oblige the council of ministers which has lost the confidence of the legislative assembly.

The cabinet members are subject to some limitations due to the collective responsibility. Therefore, a cabinet member is expected to resign from the cabinet if they want to publicly disagree with a cabinet decision. As a result, the government is held jointly accountable when a vote of no confidence is voted by the Parliament, even with regard to a single minister. The entire government then steps down. A new administration will be formed as a result, and a general election will be called.

What’s next in Maharashtra?

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Therefore, Uddhav Thackeray, losing his position as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, would mean the dissolution of the entire cabinet and the coalition itself. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed to all the MLAs of the Shinde camp who are currently in Guwahati to return and hold talks so that they can come up with a resolution. 

Rebel Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde is anticipated to meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Koshyari soon. The Maharashtra chief minister further stated that he is in contact with some of the rebel MLAs' families, who have "conveyed their sentiments" to him. This occurs before Tuesday's 5 p.m. cabinet meeting, which will be chaired by Thackeray.

Eknath Shinde, meanwhile, challenged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's figures by asserting that he has at least 50 MLAs' support earlier in the day and affirmed that he will visit Mumbai shortly.