Discuss the powers of the Governor with respect to the elected government in states. What are the challenges to the smooth functioning of this system?

Article 153 of the constitution establishes a governor. The Governor is supposed to act as a link between the Union and the State (federalism). The governor is the executive head of the state, who is appointed by the President and plays a central role in maintaining a healthy centre-state relationship.

Powers of the Governor:

• Under the Indian constitutional scheme, the governor has more discretionary power than those of the president.
• Apart from constitutional discretion, he has been bestowed with individual discretion in recognition of his role as centre’s representative to the state.
• Reserve bill for presidential assent.
• Recommend imposition of emergency in state.
• Applying wisdom to choose a stable government, when the results show hung assembly.
• Absolute Veto, suspensive Veto, pocket Veto of bills from becoming acts.
• Powers with respect to schedule 5 and schedule 6.

The post has remained controversial since its inception, because of the involved politics. There have been demands for its abolition as well.

Importance of office of Governor:

• A governor is the link between the Centre and state.
• The governor can act as a medium for enabling cooperative federalism.
• Governors can ensure that a satisfactory solution is found in the event of a hung assembly. 
• Thus, the Governor is not merely a constitutional head of state but also the centre’s nominee to state to ensure coordination between centre and state and ensure that the state runs according to the constitution.

Associated issues:

• Governors have played a very partisan role regarding government formation, especially in case of an unclear majority.
• Many governors come from extremely political backgrounds and have behaved in a biased manner towards some parties.
• They are often called as the agents of centre because of their biased nature tilting towards centre.
• In the past, there have been various instances of declaration of state emergency and dissolution of the state legislative assembly by the governor in case of an opposition party in power.

Way forward:

The biased behavior of the governor affects the faith in the institution of the governor.

• Introducing fixed tenure for the governor and not selecting people recently involved in politics as governors.
• The chief minister of the concerned state should be consulted before appointing the governor.
• His term must not normally interfere with state’s elections.
• To check such misuse, Sarkaria Committee recommendations must be paid heed to.