Post of Deputy CM

Post of Deputy CM

Subject : Polity

Section: Executive

Concept :

• K Shivakumar sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka

Details:

• Appointment of a Deputy CM has been a long-standing feature of Indian politics.
• The post of Deputy CM represents a political compromise that often follows the formation of a coalition government or when no single leader commands unchallenged authority in the party in power and loyalty across all key interest groups.

Deputy Chief Minister

• The post of Deputy Chief Minister in India is not a constitutional one, but a political arrangement to appease allies or factions within a party.
• The Deputy CM is equivalent to a Cabinet Minister in terms of rank and perks but does not have any specific financial or administrative powers.
• The Deputy CM has to report to the Chief Minister and seek his or her approval for any decision related to his or her portfolio.
• The Deputy CM does not have access to the files or matters that are meant for the Chief Minister.

History of the post of Deputy CM

• The first leader to hold the post of deputy CM in independent India was the Congress’s Anugrah Narayan Sinha.
• He was one of the tallest leaders to emerge from Bihar, termed the “mason of modern Bihar and its politics”.
• Later on, Karpoori thakur became deputy CM in 1967.
• Subsequently more states began to follow this pattern.
• As of 22 May 2023, 11 out of the 28 states have deputy chief ministers.
• In the northeastern states, where multi-party coalition governments are the norm, four of the seven states have Deputy CMs.

Appointment and removal

• The appointment and removal of a deputy chief minister is entirely at the discretion of the chief minister.
• The chief minister may appoint more than one deputy chief minister, as is the case in some states like Uttar Pradesh.
• The chief minister may also reshuffle or drop a deputy chief minister at any time, as per their political calculations.

Significance of the Post of Deputy Chief Minister

• The position of deputy chief minister is used to bring political stability and strength to a coalition government. It is also a way of rewarding loyal and influential leaders of the ruling party or alliance.
• The Deputy CM acts as the chief minister’s deputy and assists them in the administration and governance of the state.
• In some cases, the Deputy CM may act as a bridge between the ruling party and its allies, or between different regions or communities within the state.
• The Deputy CM may be seen as a potential successor to the Chief Minister, or as a check and balance on his or her authority.
• The Deputy CM may have some influence on policy-making and governance, depending on his or her rapport with the Chief Minister and other ministers.
• The Deputy CM may also perform some of the functions of the chief minister in their absence, such as presiding over cabinet meetings, attending official functions, or representing the state in inter-state or national forums.
• However, the deputy chief minister does not have any constitutional authority to act on behalf of the chief minister or to issue any orders or directives without their consent.