Governor’s role in government formation
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Constitution, amendments & basic structure· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Governor of Tamil Nadu invited Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C. Joseph Vijay to form the government after he secured letters of support from 120 members.
Background
C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after securing letters of support from 120 members. The Supreme Court has ruled that the 'floor of the House' is the only forum to determine a majority.
Facts for Prelims
- FactC. Joseph Vijay secured letters of support from 120 members to form the government.
- BodyThe Supreme Court of India designated the 'floor of the House' as the forum to determine majority support.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the constitutional boundaries of a Governor's discretionary powers in the formation of a state government in the absence of a clear majority.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Judicial oversight: Supreme Court's insistence on floor tests to prevent arbitrary executive appointments
- Constitutional ambiguity: Conflict between Governor's discretionary powers and the principle of representative democracy
- Institutional friction: Tension between state-level political mandates and the Governor's role as a constitutional head
Keywords: discretionary powers · floor of the House · constitutional mandate · government formation · judicial review
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