Role Of Deputy Chief minister – Free PDF Download

• The post of deputy CM is considered as No. 2 in the hierarchy in the Council of Ministers
• Political parties often adopt the practice of appointing deputy chief ministers to

1. Appease their allies
2. Appease communities or vote banks
3. To maintain alliances

How many Deputy CMs in India in 2019?

• Currently, 16 out of the 31 states and union territories have deputy chief ministers.
• Out of these 16 states and union territories, states with multiple Dept. CMs are –

1. Andhra Pradesh – 5
2. Karnataka – 3
3. Uttar Pradesh – 2
4. Goa – 2

• Constitutionally ,the post of a deputy chief minister does not hold any more significance than that of a Cabinet minister in the state
• A deputy CM’s weight in the government is determined on the basis of the portfolios allocated to him.
• Unlike the posts of chief minister and cabinet ministers, that of a deputy chief minister is not a constitutional post.
• It is equivalent to the rank of a cabinet minister (in the state) and enjoys pay and perks that a cabinet minister is entitled to.

What is the role of a deputy chief minister in government’s functioning?

• In a state government, besides the general administration, the two top portfolios – vigilance and home – remain generally with the chief minister.
• The power of transfer-postings of the Class I officers also solely lies with the chief minister.
• Generally, the deputy CM gets a portfolio or two, as any other cabinet minister.
• The leading party or the one with larger numbers also tries to keep with it most important portfolios of finance and revenue, while the deputy CM, who is generally from a smaller party, may get portfolios like agriculture, sports and youth affairs, woman and child development, housing etc.
• The deputy CM’s actual importance depends a lot on the portfolio that is allocated to him.

Are there any specific financial powers that lie with the deputy CM?

• The deputy CM does not enjoy any specific financial power.
• He also holds the same financial powers as other cabinet ministers.
• Even for his own portfolio, the Deputy CM has to take approval of the chief minister for any expenditure over and above the allocated budge

 Are all the official files that go to CM routed through deputy CM?

• No, the official files that are meant for CM are not routed through the deputy CM.
• Deputy CM does not have access to such files or decisions taken by the CM.
• Rather, the files pertaining to the portfolios that the deputy CM gets, are routed to the CM, through him.

Dual power centre

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