1. Cabinet Formation:

The Governor is advised by the Chief Minister on the appointment of other Ministers and the division of portfolios among them. The Chief Minister decides who MLNMLC from his party or coalition (in the case of a coalition administration) will be chosen as a Minister and which portfolio will be assigned to the latter. No Minister has the authority to demand a specific ministry. It is not his entitlement to a specific portfolio. The Chief Minister has the authority to assign a portfolio to one or more Ministers.

2. Leader of Council of Ministers:

The Chief Minister is the Cabinet's leader. He presides over its meetings and sets the agenda. He also directs the Cabinet sessions' deliberations. Any subject referred to him by the Governor will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting.

3. Coordination and Conflict Resolution:

The Chief Minister is responsible for establishing unity and cooperation among various Departments. If there is a disagreement between two Ministers, he will strive to resolve it. His government would be weak if two of his ministers fought each other.

4. Advisor to Governor:

The Chief Minister serves as the main advisor to the Governor. In normal times, the Governor is guided by the advice of the Chief Minister.

5. Main Information Source for Governor:

The Chief Minister brings the Governor up to date on all major government decisions and activities. He provides the Governor with any further information requested by the latter. The Chief Minister serves as the main point of contact between the Governor and the Council of Ministers.

6. Leader of Ruling Party in Legislature:

The Chief Minister is the legislative leader of the ruling party. In the legislature, he must maintain discipline among his party's members. To that end, he selects a whip whose orders must be followed by MPs from his party.

7. Leader of his Party:

Even if another party leader is the President of his party in the state, the Chief Minister is without a doubt the most important leader of his party in the state. His government will be weak if there is a schism between his party's legislative and political wings. The Chief Minister is working to keep such confrontations from erupting. It is also his responsibility to work for the unification and strengthening of his party in the state.

8. Power to Drop a Minister:

Any Minister can be removed from office by the Chief Minister. According to the Constitution, Ministers serve at the pleasure of the Governor, but in practise, they serve at the pleasure of the Chief Minister. If the Chief Minister is dissatisfied with a Minister, he has the authority to request that Minister quit.

9. Guiding and Controlling Ministers:

The Chief Minister has the authority to direct, monitor, and control the other members of the Council of Ministers. If a Minister is not doing his or her duties effectively, the Chief Minister has the authority to reprimand and warn him. He can provide advice to any Minister on how to improve the operation of his Department. If the Chief Minister deems a Minister to be corrupt and ineffective, he will remove him from office. A Minister may be effective and honest, but if he is not a team player or is not loyal to the Chief Minister, he may be dismissed.

10. Power to overrule other Ministers:

The Chief Minister has the authority to overrule his Ministers. A Minister is in charge of his or her Department. However, his decision about his Department is not final. Any Minister's decision can be modified or changed by the Chief Minister if he so desires.

11. Main Spokesman of Government:

The Chief Minister is the main spokesman of the state government. Important policy decisions of the government are made public through him. Whatever he says, that is taken as authoritative.

12. Link between Centre and State:

The Chief Minister represents the state government in various inter-state bodies at the national level. He is the main link between the state government and the union government.

13. Dissolution of State Legislature:

The Chief Minister has the authority to suggest that the Legislative Assembly be dissolved to the Governor. He may do so in order to hold an early election before the Assembly's term is up. If the Chief Minister recommends to the Governor that the Legislative Assembly be dissolved after his administration has lost majority support in the Assembly, the Governor may reject his recommendation. In this case, the Governor may look into the prospect of forming an alternate government.