State Government and Politics

9 STATE GOVERNMENT

• Both at the Center and in the States, there is a parliamentary system of governance.
• In the State, the Governor, who is the constitutional head, performs his duties and exercises his powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
• Part 6 of the Indian Constitution, from Articles 152 to 213, provides a comprehensive account of the State Government.
• Part 6 applies to all States.
• The State of Jammu and Kashmir has a separate Constitution.

Jammu and Kashmir: Article 370 explains the provisions. Article 370 was revoked by the President of India on August 5, 2019. From October 31, 2019, the special Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was abolished. The State was bifurcated into the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

• Which of the following conventions regarding the appointment of a State Governor is true? (1) (AP Constable Prelims - 2016)
  1. The person should not be a resident of that State but should belong to another State.
  2. The person's age should not exceed 60 years.
  3. The Chief Minister of that State appoints him.
  4. The person should be in a legal profession.

State Governor

• Part 6 of the Constitution, from Articles 153 to 167, describes the Governor's post, appointment, qualifications, removal, and powers and duties.
• According to Article 153, every State shall have a Governor.
• By the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956, a provision was made to appoint a common Governor for two or more States.
• In this way, when the same person is appointed as a common Governor for two or more States, the respective States shall pay the Governor's salary and allowances in equal proportion.
• The Governor is the Chief Executive Head of the State.
• The Governor is the nominal Executive Head of the State.
• The Governor is the First Citizen of the State.
• The minimum age required for a person to be appointed as Governor is 35 years.
• The Governor is appointed by the President (according to Article 155).
• The method of appointment of the Governor is borrowed from the Canadian Constitution.
• In America, Governors are directly elected by the voters.
• According to Article 157, a person to be appointed as Governor must be a citizen of India.
• He/She should not hold any office of profit. He should not have been convicted of any crime.
• Must be 35 years of age.
• A person to be appointed as Governor should not be a member of either Parliament or the State Legislature.
• If he is a member, his membership ceases immediately upon being appointed as Governor. Similarly, after being elected, he cannot hold any office of profit in the government.
• Sarkaria Commission suggestions/conventions for Governor appointment (can be followed or not):
  1. Expert in some field.
  2. Not from same state.
  3. Not active in politics for 2 years.
  4. Consult CM of state.
• Governor's term: Normally 5 years, but holds office at the pleasure of the President.
• Governor can be removed by the President (Article 156(1)). No specific reason required.
• President can transfer Governor.
• Chief Justice of High Court administers oath.
• Governor submits resignation to President.
• Salary/allowances determined by Parliament.
• Current salary: ₹3,50,000.
• According to Article 154, executive powers exercised in Governor's name.
• Appoints Chief Minister and other Ministers.
• Appoints Advocate General (Article 165).
• Appoints Chairman and members of State Public Service Commission (Article 316).
• Appoints State Election Commission (Article 243 K).
• Question: Who is *not* appointed by the State Governor? (AP Constables Mains–2016)
  1. High Court Judge
  2. Advocate General
  3. Chief Minister
  4. Chairman State Public Service Commission

Governor's Legislative Powers

• Governor is an integral part of the State Legislature, but not a member (Article 168).
• Can summon, prorogue, and dissolve the State Legislature (Article 174).
• Can nominate 1/6th of members to Legislative Council (Article 171).
• Final decision on disqualification of legislators (based on Election Commission advice).
• Assent to bills or refer to President.
• Can nominate one Anglo-Indian to Legislative Assembly (Article 333).
• Can issue ordinances when Legislature not in session (Article 213).
• Presents reports of State Finance Commission, Public Service Commission, CAG.

Governor's Financial Powers:

• Governor ensures annual budget presented (Article 202).
• Money bills require Governor's permission.
• Can assent or withhold money bill, but *cannot* send back for reconsideration.
• No new taxes without Governor's permission.
• Maintains State Contingency Fund (Article 267).
• Maintains State Public Fund (Article 266).

Governor's Judicial Powers

• Article 161: Governor's judicial powers.
• Can reduce, commute, remit sentences, postpone execution, grant pardon.
• *Cannot* pardon a death sentence.
• No jurisdiction over Military Court sentences.
• President consults Governor on High Court Judge appointments.

Governor's Discretionary Powers - 163 (2)

• Governors of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram: Discretionary powers over tribal area administration.
• Nagaland: Special powers for law and order.
• Maharashtra: Special boards for development of Vidarbha and Marathwada.
• Gujarat: Special measures for Saurashtra and Kutch.
• Recommend President's rule in case of constitutional crisis (Article 356).
• Withhold assent to bills and send to President (Article 201).

Special Protections for the Governor:

• Article 361(1): Actions during official duties cannot be questioned in court.
• 361(2): No criminal proceedings while in office.

Governor's post is a "Golden Cage Bird." - Padmaja Naidu.

• Governor's residence: 'Raj Bhavan'.
• Telangana Raj Bhavan: Hyderabad; Andhra Pradesh (temporary): Vijayawada.
• Andhra Pradesh Governor's summer resort: Horsley Hills (Chittoor District).

Horsley Hills' local name is Enugu Mallamma Hills.

• Araku: 'Andhra Ooty'.
• Lambasingi (Araku Valley): 'Andhra Kashmir'.
• First woman Governor in India: Sarojini Naidu (Uttar Pradesh).
• First woman Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Sharda Mukherjee.
• First Governor of combined Andhra Pradesh: C.M. Trivedi (1953-57).
• Second Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Bhimsen Sachar (1957-62).
• Current Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Biswabhushan Harichandan.
• Current Governor of Telangana: Tamilisai Soundararajan.
• Shortest serving Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Mohanlal Sukhadia (3 months, 1976).
• Longest serving Governor of United Andhra Pradesh: E.S.L. Narasimhan (2009-2019).
• First and last combined Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: ESL. Narasimhan.
• When President's rule imposed in Andhra State (1954): Governor C.M. Trivedi, Chief Minister Prakasam Pantulu.

2. Chief Minister and State Council of Ministers

• Head of Government in the State: Chief Minister.
• Council of Ministers, headed by Chief Minister, advises Governor (Article 163).
• Chief Minister: Real executive authority.
• Chief Minister: Link between Governor and Council of Ministers.
• Coordinator of state administration.
• Leader of State Council of Ministers: Exercises real administrative powers.
• Presides over State Cabinet meetings.
• Leader of State Legislative Assembly.
• Member of: Zonal Council, Inter-State Council, National Development Council (NDC), National Integration Council (NIC).
• Governor consults screening committee headed by CM for State Human Rights Commission appointments.
• Governor consults screening committee headed by CM for State Information Commission appointments.
• Article 164(1): CM appointed by Governor; other ministers appointed by Governor on CM's advice.
• Article 164(2): Council of Ministers collectively responsible to Legislative Assembly.
• Governor administers oath to CM and ministers.
• If not a member of the Legislative Assembly at the time of taking the oath as minister, must become one within 6 months.
• Salaries/allowances of CM and ministers determined by State Legislature.
• CM communicates Cabinet decisions to Governor.

91st Constitutional Amendment 2003: Articles 164(1)A, 164(1)B (limit on size of Council of Ministers).

• Example: Andhra Pradesh MLA seats: 175.
• Maximum State Ministers in Andhra Pradesh: 26 (currently 26).
• Telangana Legislative Assembly members: 119. Telangana Council of Ministers maximum: 18 (currently 18).
• Union Ministers: Cannot exceed 15% of total Lok Sabha members.
• Women who served as Chief Minister three times: Jayalalithaa, Mayawati, Sheila Dikshit.
• Two Chief Ministers at the same time: Kalyan Singh, Jagadambika Pal (Uttar Pradesh).
• First film actor to become CM: M.G. Ramachandran.

• First woman Chief Minister: Sucheta Kripalani (Uttar Pradesh).
• First Telugu film actor to become CM: N.T. Rama Rao.
• First CM to go to jail while in office: Jayalalithaa (Tamil Nadu).
• First CM to surrender in court: Rabri Devi (Bihar).
• First CM to die in office: Sheikh Abdullah (Jammu & Kashmir).
• CM of Andhra Pradesh who died in office: Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
• First Dalit CM: Damodaram Sanjeevaiah (1960-62) ( ).
• First Dalit woman CM: Mayawati (Uttar Pradesh).
• 2nd longest serving CM: Jyoti Basu.

Jyoti Basu: Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal. Served 23 years, 167 days (1977-2000).

• Longest serving CM: Pawan Kumar Chamling (24 years, 165 days).
• Currently: Naveen Patnaik (Odisha).

Pawan Kumar Chamling: Sikkim Democratic Front Party. CM of Sikkim since December 12, 1994. Elected for 5th time in 2014, served until May 27, 2019.

• Current oldest CM: Amarinder Singh (Punjab).
• Shortest serving CM:
  1. Jagadambika Pal (Uttar Pradesh - 1 day)
  2. Harish Rawat (Uttarakhand - 1 day)
• Longest serving woman CM: Sheila Dikshit (Delhi).
• Most times taking oath as CM (woman): Jayalalithaa (6 times).
• First woman from South India to become CM: Janaki Ramachandran (Tamil Nadu).
• Youngest CM: Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh, 37 years).
• Oldest CM: V.S. Achuthanandan (Kerala, 94 years).
• Hyderabad CM: Burgula Ramakrishna Rao (March 12, 1952 - October 31, 1956).

Chief Ministers of Undivided Madras State:

• First (1921, Justice Party): A. Subbarayalu Reddiar.
• Second: Raja Panaganti Ramaraya Ningar (Panugallu Raja).
• Third: Dr. P. Subbarayan.
• Fourth: P. Munuswamy Naidu.
• Fifth: Bobbili Raja.

Bobbili Raja's original name: Ramakrishna Ranga Rao.

• Sixth: Bobbili Raja.
• Seventh: K.V. Reddy Naidu.
• Eighth: C. Rajagopalachari.
• Ninth: Tanguturi Prakasam.
• Tenth: O.P. Ramaswamy Reddiar.
• Eleventh: P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja.

Chief Ministers of Andhra State:

• First: Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu.

• Last: Bezawada Gopalareddy.
• First CM of Andhra Pradesh: Neelam Sanjeevareddy.
• State Electricity Board formed during: Sanjeevareddy.
• Controversial CM (nationalized bus routes): Neelam Sanjeevareddy.
• When Telugu became official language (1966): AP CM Kasu Brahmananda Reddy.
• "Visakha Steel is the right of Andhras" movement (1966): CM Kasu Brahmananda Reddy.
• First from Telangana to become AP CM: P.V. Narasimha Rao.
• Faced Mulki rules controversy (1972): P.V. Narasimha Rao.
• Implemented Land Ceiling Act (1972): P.V. Narasimha Rao.
• Introduced 'Dharmamahamatra' post: Y.N.T. Rama Rao.

Dharmamahamatra post equivalent to Lokayukta.

• Served as AP CM as Legislative Council members:
  1. Bhavanam Venkatram
  2. K. Rosaiah

• Longest serving AP CM: Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
• Shortest serving: Nadendla Bhaskararao.
• Died while in office: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
• Oldest to become United AP CM: Konijeti Rosaiah (76 years).
• Youngest to become United AP CM: Damodaram Sanjeevaiah (39 years).
• Telangana's First CM: K. Chandrasekhar Rao. (From June 2, 2014 - Present )
• First Muslim woman CM: Syeda Anwara Taimur (Assam) - Recent Death.
• Second Muslim woman CM : Mehbooba Mufti (Jammu-Kashmir).

Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers - Tenure

Number	Chief Minister's Name	From	To	Days
1.	Neelam Sanjeevareddy	01.11.1956	16.04.1957	1167
2.	Neelam Sanjeevareddy	17.04.1957	10.01.1960	719
3.	Damodaram Sanjeevaiah	11.01.1960	11.03.1962	790
4.	Neelam Sanjeevareddy	12.03.1962	28.02.1964	719
5.	Kasu Brahmananda Reddy	29.02.1964	05.03.1967	-
6.	Kasu Brahmananda Reddy	06.03.1967	29.09.1971	2777
7.	P.V. Narasimha Rao	30.09.1971	10.01.1973	468
	President's Rule	10.01.1973	10.12.1973	335
8.	Jalagam Vengala Rao	10.12.1973	05.03.1978	1547
9.	Marri Chennareddy	06.03.1978	10.10.1980	950
10.	Tanguturi Anjaiah	11.10.1980	23.02.1982	501
11.	Bhavanam Venkatram Reddy	24.02.1982	19.09.1982	208
12.	Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy	20.09.1982	08.01.1983	111
13.	Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao	09.01.1983	15.08.1984	585
14.	Nadendla Bhaskararao	16.08.1984	15.09.1984	31
15.	Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao	16.09.1984	09.03.1985	175
16.	Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao	09.03.1985	02.12.1989	1750
17.	Dr. Marri Chennareddy	03.12.1989	17.12.1990	379
18.	Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy	18.12.1990	08.10.1992	662
19.	Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy	09.10.1992	11.12.1994	794
20.	Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao	12.12.1994	31.08.1995	263
21.	Nara Chandrababu Naidu	01.09.1995	10.10.1999	3178
22.	Nara Chandrababu Naidu	11.10.1999	13.05.2004	-
23.	Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy	14.05.2004	02.09.2009	1938
24.	Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy	20.05.2009	02.09.2009	-
25.	K. Rosaiah	03.09.2009	24.11.2010	448
26.	N. Kiran Kumar Reddy	25.11.2010	21.02.2014	1193
	President's Rule	March 2014	02.06.2014	98
27.	Nara Chandrababu Naidu	08.06.2014	29.05.2019	1816
28.	Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy	30.05.2019	Incumbent	-

President's Rule in Andhra State:

1. 1954: Due to liquor movement, VC appointment controversy, no-confidence motion against Prakasam Pantulu. From November 15, 1954, to March 28, 1955.
2. 1972: Due to Jai Andhra movement, P.V. Narasimha Rao resigned. From January 18, 1973, to December 10, 1973.
3. 2014: To remove political uncertainty due to AP Reorganisation. From March 1, 2014.

Telangana State has never had President's rule.

• States where President's Rule has *not* been imposed: Telangana, Chhattisgarh.