Role of Governor

Mode of appointment & dismissal of governor and discriminatory and partisan role of governors have always acted as a barrier in cooperative federalism. On these lines the role of Governor in deciding government formation post hung assembly was in question.

• The governor in case of a hung assembly can use his discretion in inviting a political party to form government.
• Generally it is considered that a party or coalition with most seats would be invited first, but this was not seen in case of Goa and Manipur (2017), or Karnataka and Maharashtra (2019).
• This led to Supreme Court’s intervention leading to bitterness in relationship of Centre-State, hampering cooperative federalism.