T.N. Governor rejects recommendation of CM on portfolio

Subject: Polity

Section: Executive

Concept:

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi had refused to accept the recommendation of Chief Minister MK Stalin to reallocate the portfolios held by V Senthil Balaji to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Housing Minister S Muthusamy.
This comes after Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged cash for jobs scam.

State Council of Ministers

A Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister shall assist and advise the Governor in the fulfilment of his responsibilities, unless he is required by or under this Constitution to exercise all or any of his duties in his discretion.
The state executive is made up of the Governor and the Council of Ministers, which is led by the Chief Minister.
The Governor of a State is selected by the President for a five-year term and serves at the discretion of the President.
Only Indian nationals above the age of 35 are eligible for appointment to this position.

How are the Council of Ministers appointed?

The Governor appoints the Chief Minister.
The governor appoints the other ministries on the suggestion of the chief minister.
The governor can only select ministers who have been proposed by the chief minister.

Power and Functions of Chief Minister in relation to Council of Ministers

The Governor appoints the Council of ministers only on the recommendation of the chief minister.
The Chief Minister can ask the Minister to resign or advise the Governor to dismiss him.
The Chief Minister also has the authority to order for the reallocation or shuffling of the ministers’ portfolios.
He can shuffle the portfolios of the existing ministers or he or also has the authority to appoint new ministers under his cabinet.
The council of ministers automatically dissolves if the chief minister dies or resigns. This is because the Chief Minister chairs the State council of ministers.