Carved out of Maharashtra in 1960, Gujarat is governed by a Legislative Assembly of 182 members.
The members of the Legislative Assembly is headed by the Governor.
The present Gujarat Governor is Naval Kishore Sharma, who swore to power on 24th July, 2004.
Although the Gujarat Governor is just an executive head, his office is vested with certain powers and functions. Some of the important functions of the Gujarat Governor are:
- Executive Powers - administration, appointment and removals of some distinctive positions in the Gujarat government and politics, like:
- Chief Minister
- Council of Ministers
- Advocate General
- Chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission
- Judges of the High Courts, District Courts, etc.
- Legislative Powers - law making and proper functioning of the Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad. His duties include:
- summoning and proroguing the Vidhan Sabha,
- inaugurates and addresses the Vidhan Sabha after assembly elections and also at the beginning of the new session,
- gives assent to the bills passed the Legislative Assembly,
- promulgates ordinances, etc.
- Discretionary Powers - to be carried at the discretion of the Gujarat Governor. The Gujarat Governor uses such powers:
- in the appointment of the Chief Minister of Gujarat,
- in informing the President of India of the failure of the Constitutional machinery of Gujarat,
- in reserving certain bills for the consideration of the President, etc.
The tenure of the Gujarat Governors' office is normally 5 years; but, owing to certain circumstances, it can be dissolved before its stipulated period. Such conditions can be:
- dismissal of the President,
- resignation by him, etc.
