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{{short description|Democratically elected body of Kerala}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{infobox government
| government_name = Government of Kerala
| image = Government of Kerala Logo.svg
| division_type = [[Seat of government|Seat of Government]]
| division = [[Niyamasabha Mandiram]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]]
| leader_type = [[Governor (India)|Governor]]
| leader_title = [[Arif Mohammad Khan]]
| leader_type2 = [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]]
| leader_title2 = [[Pinarayi Vijayan]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]]
| leader_type3 = [[List of current Indian deputy chief ministers|Deputy Chief Minister]]
| leader_title3 =
| leader_type4 = [[Chief secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]]
| leader_title4 = [[Joy Vazhayil|Dr. Joy Vazhayil]], [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]<ref>{{URL|https://gad.kerala.gov.in/index.php/contact-us>pages}}</ref>
| legislature_label = [[State legislative assemblies of India|Assembly]]
| legislature = {{ubl|[[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]|}}
| speaker_label = [[List of current Indian legislative speakers and chairmen|Speaker]]
| speaker = [[M. B. Rajesh]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]]
| deputy_speaker_label = [[List of current Indian legislative speakers and chairmen|Deputy Speaker]]
| deputy_speaker = [[Chittayam Gopakumar]], [[Communist Party of India|CPI]]
| members_in_assembly_label = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Members in Assembly]]
| members_in_assembly = [[List of constituencies of the Kerala Legislative Assembly|140]]
| branch4 = [[Judiciary of India|Judiciary branch]]
| court_name = [[High courts of India|High Court]]
| court = [[Kerala High Court|High Court of Kerala]]
| chief_justice_label = [[List of current Indian chief justices|Chief Justice]]
| chief_justice = [[S. Manikumar]]
|nativename=കേരള സർക്കാർ|deputy_chairman_label=[[List of current Indian legislative speakers and chairmen|Deputy Chairman]]}}

The '''Government of Kerala''' is the state government of the Indian state of [[Kerala]]. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. The chief minister and their most senior ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as the cabinet.

Ministers of the Kerala Government are [[Responsible government|responsible]] to the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]; they make statements in the assembly and take questions from members of the assembly. The government is [[Fusion of powers|dependent on Kerala Legislative Assembly]] to make [[primary legislation]]. Legislative assembly elections are held every five years to elect a new assembly, unless there is a successful [[vote of no confidence]] in the government or a two-thirds vote for a [[snap election]] in the assembly, in which case an election may be held sooner. After an election, the governor selects as chief minister the leader of the party most likely to command the confidence of the assembly, usually by possessing a majority of MLAs.

Under the [[Indian constitution]], [[Executive (government)|executive authority]] lies with the governor, although this authority is exercised only by, or on the advice of, the chief minister and the cabinet. In most cases, the cabinet members exercise power directly as leaders of the government departments, though some cabinet positions are [[sinecure]]s to a greater or lesser degree.

== Executive branches ==
{{wide image|Pattom Skyline panoramo 02.jpg|600px|align-cap=center|The city of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] serves as the administrative headquarters of Kerala.}}
=== Kerala Council of Ministers ===
{{See also|List of Chief Ministers of Kerala}}
{{Main|Kerala Council of Ministers}}
{{Main|List of Kerala Ministers}}
[[File:Government Secretariat, Kerala.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Kerala Government Secretariat|Government Secretariat Complex]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], which houses offices of ministers and secretaries]]

Like in other Indian states, the executive arm of the state is responsible for the day-to-day management of the state. It consists of the governor, the chief minister and the Council of Ministers. The chief minister and the council of ministers also have been appointed by the governor. The governor summons prorogues and dissolves the legislature. He can close the [[legislative assembly]] on the recommendation of the chief minister. [[Judiciary]] has been separated from the executive in Kerala like other Indian states.

The executive authority is headed by the Chief Minister of Kerala, who is the [[de facto]] head of state and is vested with most of the executive powers; the Legislative Assembly's majority party leader is appointed to this position by the Governor. The present Chief Minister is [[Pinarayi Vijayan]], who took office on 25 May 2016. Generally, the winning party decides the chief minister. In many cases, the party focuses a chief ministerial candidate during the election.

The Council of Ministers, which answers to the Legislative Assembly, has its members appointed by the Governor; the appointments receive input from the Chief Minister. They are collectively responsible to the legislative assembly of the State. Generally, the winning party and its chief minister chooses the ministers list and submit the list for the Governor's approval.

=== Governor ===
{{See also|Governors of Kerala}}
The governor is appointed by the [[President of India|President]] for a term of five years. The executive and legislative powers lie with the [[Chief Minister]] and his council of ministers, who are appointed by the governor. The governors of the [[states and territories of India]] have similar powers and functions at the state level as that of the president of India at the national level. Only Indian citizens above 35 years of age are eligible for appointment. Governors discharge all [[constitutional]] functions, such as the appointment of the chief minister, sending reports to the president about failure of constitutional machinery in a state, or with respect to issues relating to the assent to a [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]] passed by legislature, exercise or their own opinion.<ref>{{cite web|title=The States|url=https://india.gov.in/knowindia/the_states.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323155549/https://india.gov.in/knowindia/the_states.php|archive-date=2008-03-23|publisher=Government of India}}</ref>
[[File:India-KERALA.svg|thumb|150px|Thumbnail map of [[India]] with Kerala highlighted.]]

[[Arif Mohammad Khan]] is the present governor.

The governor enjoys many different types of powers:
*Executive powers related to administration, appointments, and removals
*Legislative powers related to lawmaking and the state legislature
*Discretionary powers to be carried out according to the discretion of the governor

== Legislative branch ==
[[File:Kerala Legislative Assembly, Thiruvananthapuram.jpg|thumb|250px|The state assembly building in [[Thiruvananthapuram]].]]
{{Main|Kerala Legislature}}
The [[legislature]] comprises the governor and the legislative assembly, which is the highest political organ in the state. The governor has the power to summon the assembly or to close the same. All members of the legislative assembly are directly elected, normally once in every five years by the eligible voters who are above 18 years of age. The current assembly consists of 140 elected members and one member nominated by the governor from the [[Anglo-Indian]] community. The elected members select one of its own members as its chairman who is called the [[Speaker (politics)|speaker]]. The speaker is assisted by the deputy speaker who is also elected by the members. The conduct of a meeting in the house is the responsibility of the speaker.

The main function of the [[Legislative Assembly|assembly]] is to pass laws and rules. Every bill passed by the house has to be finally approved by the governor before it becomes applicable.

The normal term of the legislative assembly is five years from the date appointed for its first meeting. But while a proclamation of [[States of emergency in India|state of emergency]] is in operation, the said period will be extended by [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] by Laws for a period not exceeding one year at a time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kerala Government - Legislature|url=https://niyamasabha.org/codes/govt_2.htm|publisher=Kerala Niyamasabha}}</ref>

== Administrative divisions ==
{{See also |Corporations, Municipalities and Taluks of Kerala |Citizens Charter in Local Governments in Kerala}}
Kerala State has been divided into [[Districts of Kerala|14 districts]], 27 revenue divisions, 14 district panchayats, 75 taluks, 152 CD blocks, 1453 revenue villages, 941 [[Gram panchayat]]s, 6 corporations and 87 municipalities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=2273 |title=Local Self Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411094016/https://www.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=2273 |archive-date=2011-04-11 }}</ref> The business of the state government is transacted through the various secretariat departments based on the rules of business. Each department consists of secretary to the government, who is the official head of the department and such other under secretaries, junior secretaries, officers, and staffs subordinate to him/her. The ''Chief secretary'' superintending control over the whole secretariat and staff attached to the ministers.

The department is further divided into sections, each of which is under the charge of a section officer. Apart from these sections, dealing with the subjects allotted to them, there are other offices sections, assigned with specific duties. When there is more than one secretary in a department, there shall be a clear separation of work.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_sec/index.htm |title=Organizational and functional details of the Government Secretariat |publisher=The official website, Government of Kerala |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005001534/https://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_sec/index.htm |archive-date=2010-10-05 }}</ref>

===Departments===
* General Administration Department
* [[Department of Agricultural Development and Farmers' Welfare, Government of Kerala|Agricultural Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Karshika Keralam – Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers' Welfare|url=https://keralaagriculture.gov.in/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2022-02-07|language=ml-IN}}</ref>
* Animal Husbandry
* Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy<ref>{{Cite web|title=AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy) – National Health Mission|url=https://arogyakeralam.gov.in/2020/03/23/ayush-ayurveda-yoga-naturopathy-unani-siddha-homoeopathy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207103653/https://arogyakeralam.gov.in/2020/03/23/ayush-ayurveda-yoga-naturopathy-unani-siddha-homoeopathy/|archive-date=7 February 2022|access-date=2022-02-07|language=English}}</ref> ([[Ministry of AYUSH|AYUSH]])
* Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation
* Co-operation Department
* [[Department of General and Higher Education, Government of Kerala|Education Department]]
* Electronics & Information Technology
* [[Department of Finance (Kerala)|Finance Department]]
* Fisheries & Ports
* [[Department of Forests and Wildlife (Kerala)|Forests and Wildlife Department]]
* [[Department of Food and Civil Supplies (Kerala)|Food and Civil Supplies Department]]
* [[Department of Health Services, Government of Kerala|Health Services Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=dhs – Directorate of Health Services|url=https://dhs.kerala.gov.in/|access-date=2022-02-07|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Kerala|Home Ministry]]
* Health and Family Welfare
* Housing Department
* [[Department of Industries (Kerala)|Industries Department]]
* [[Department of Information and Public Relations (Kerala)|Information & Public Relations Department]]
* [[Department of Law, Government of Kerala|Law Department]]
* Local Self-Government Department
* [[Department of Non Resident Keralites Affairs|Non Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home - NORKA|url=https://www.norkaroots.org/|access-date=2022-02-07|website=www.norkaroots.org}}</ref>
* Planning & Economic Affairs
* [[Kerala Police|Police Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official Website of Kerala Police|url=https://keralapolice.gov.in/|access-date=2022-02-07|website=keralapolice.gov.in}}</ref>
* [[Department of Power, Government of Kerala|Power Department]]
* [[Department of Public Works (Kerala)|Public Works Department]]
* [[Registration Department (Kerala)|Registration Department]]
* [[Department of Revenue and Land Survey|Revenue Department]]
* Science & Technology
* Social Justice Department
* SC/ST Development
* Taxes
* [[Department of Tourism (Kerala)|Tourism Department]]
* Transport
* Vigilance
* [[Ministry of Water Resources, Irrigation and Inland Navigation, Government of Kerala|Water Resources Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala State Portal|url=https://kerala.gov.in/subsubdetail/MTI0NTAyMDgxLjg4/Njc3NjY5NTUuOTY=|access-date=2022-02-07|website=kerala.gov.in}}</ref>
* Western Ghats Cell

== State insignias ==
{{Infobox place symbols
| region = Kerala
| country = India
| mammal = [[Elephant]]
| bird = [[Great Indian hornbill]]
| flower = ''[[Cassia fistula]]'' (Indian laburnum)
| tree = [[Coconut]]
| fruit = [[Jackfruit]]
| fish =[[Pearlspot]] (karimeen)
| costume = {{nowrap|[[Mundum neriyathum]] (women)}}<br />{{nowrap|[[Mundu]] (men)}}
| language = [[Malayalam]]
}}
{{Main|Seal of Kerala}}

The [[Seal of Kerala|Kerala State Emblem]] is a derivative version of the royal coat of arms of the [[Kingdom of Travancore]]. The state emblem symbolises two elephants guarding the ''Imperial [[conch|Shanku]]'', or conch, in its imperial crest. This crest was the insignia of Lord [[Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple|Sree Padmanabha]] (a form of Lord Vishnu) - the national deity of Travancore. ''Shanku'' was considered one of the common emblems of a majority of the Kerala feudal kingdoms. The Kingdom of Cochin and Zamorin's Malabar also had conch as state emblems. When the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] and Travancore merged in 1949, for a brief period, the crest carried a wheel or [[chakra]] in the centre with ''Shanku'' on top of it. With the accession of [[Malabar district|Malabar]] into Travancore-Cochin, the state of Kerala was formed in 1957. During this time, the royal coat of arms of the Travancore kingdom was modified by placing the "[[Lion Capital of Ashoka]]" on top of the imperial conch. The Travancore Royal Family uses the erstwhile Royal Coat of Arms of Travancore today, whereas Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple of Trivandrum uses only the imperial conch crest as its coat of arms.

The state animal of Kerala is the [[Indian elephant|elephant]], and the government [[Seal of Kerala|emblem]] has two elephants in it. The state bird is the [[great Indian hornbill]] ([[Malayalam|ML]]:മലമ്പുഴക്കി വേഴാമ്പല്‍). The state flower is the [[Golden shower tree|golden shower]] ([[Malayalam|ML]]:കണിക്കൊന്ന), and the state tree is the [[coconut tree|coconut]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kerenvis.nic.in/isbeid/kerala-symbols.htm |title=Kerala Symbols |publisher=kerenvis.nic.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307101819/https://www.kerenvis.nic.in/isbeid/kerala-symbols.htm |archive-date=2008-03-07 }}</ref> The state fish is the [[Green chromide|pearlspot]] or karimeen (കരിമീന്‍‌).

== Elections ==
{{Main|Elections in Kerala}}
Elections to the state assembly are held every five years. Elections are generally held for [[Parliament of India|Parliament]], [[State assembly]] and regional [[Panchayati Raj|panchayats]]. Due to the large numbers of eligible [[voters]], over 21 [[million]], elections are usually held on several dates. Like all other Indian states, the minimum age of registration of a voter is 18 years.

== Politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Kerala}}
Kerala has a unique position in India as one of the most politicised states. It has the nation's largest politically aware population, which actively participates in state politics.

Politics in Kerala is dominated by two political fronts: the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]-led [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]] (LDF) and the [[Indian National Congress]]-led [[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF) since late 1970s. These two coalitions have alternated in power since 1982. According to the [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]], the LDF has a majority in the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|state assembly]] (92/140).

The political alliance has strongly stabilised and, with rare exceptions, most of the coalition partners maintain loyalty to the alliance. As a result of this, power has alternated between these two fronts since 1979.

In terms of individual parties, the state has strong leanings towards [[socialism]] and thus [[Communist party|Communist parties]] have made strong inroads in Kerala. The Malabar region, particularly [[Kannur]] and [[Palakkad]], are considered the heartland of the Communist parties. The [[Kollam]] and [[Alapuzha]] districts, where trade unions have a strong presence, are generally inclined to Left parties, though several times the UDF has won. The [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]] led [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|LDF]] did a clean sweep of 11–0 over [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]] and [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] in [[Kollam district]] during [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016 Local body election]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/kerala2016/Red-wave-trounces-UDF-in-Kerala/article14328719.ece | title=Red wave trounces UDF in Kerala | newspaper=The Hindu |date=20 May 2016 |access-date=22 January 2020}}</ref> The largest Communist party is the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPIM]] and the second largest is the [[Communist Party of India|CPI]].

The [[Indian National Congress]], which leads the UDF coalition, has had a very strong presence in Kerala since pre-Independence days. The Congress party has great popularity in the [[Thrissur]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Kottayam]], [[Pathanamthitta]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram]] regions, whereas it has a strong influence in some parts of [[Idukki]] regions.

The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (the Party that currently leads the [[Government of India]]) is also active in Kerala, but is not part of either coalition. It does not have any elected Parliament member, and has lost its one Legislative Assembly member in the [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]] and selected members in all the Corporations, several Municipal Councils and a large number of Local Panchayats. The party enjoys popularity in the districts of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and [[Kasaragod]].

Other popular regional parties are:
* The [[Kerala Congress]], which has more than four denominations after breaking away from the original party. It has strong influence among settlement populations in hilly regions. The various Kerala Congress denominations are primarily patronized by the Syrian Christian community and [[Nair]] populations, mostly in Central Travancore areas like [[Kottayam]], [[Idukki]] and [[Pathanamthitta]]. Today, most of Kerala Congress parties are with the UDF.
* The [[Indian Union Muslim League]] is a powerful pro-Muslim community-oriented party, which was started as the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] prior to Independence, yet decided to transfer their allegiance to the Indian Union after Independence, when the original Muslim League went to Pakistan. The IUML-Kerala unit is the only Muslim League group to declare its allegiance and loyalty to India and hence become a state party in post-Independence India. The party has strongholds mostly in Muslim-dominated districts like [[Kozhikode]], [[Malappuram]] and [[Kasargod]]. They form the second largest party within the UDF.
* Socialist groups, consisting of several small fragmented parties like the [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]], [[Socialist Janata (Democratic) Party|SJD-S]], [[Janata Dal (Secular)|JDS]], and [[Indian National Congress (Socialist)|Congress-S]], are mainly centre-left socialist parties having very limited influence in a few pocket areas. Most of the socialist groups are with the LDF, though in a few instances, some of them changed their loyalties to the UDF.
* Communist parties consist of various groups which have broken away from the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPIM]]. They are mostly centre-left parties, though a few are extreme-left. While a few centre-left parties like the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|RSP]] have joined with the UDF, those that broke away from the CPIM, like the [[Communist Marxist Party|CMP]] and [[Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy|JSS]], led by erstwhile CPIM veterans who were expelled from CPIM, have joined with the UDF.
* The [[Bharath Dharma Jana Sena]] or BDJS is a new political party formed in 2015 led by Thushar Vellapally. The party's primary vote base is among Ezhava and Thiyya community. It is politically and ideologically aligned towards the BJP and is a part of [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]].

==Awards and honours==
Kerala was declared as the first complete digitally administered state of India on 27 February 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kerala the first digital State|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/kerala-the-first-digital-state/article8291466.ece|last=Special currespondent|date=28 February 2016|access-date=17 November 2020|work=The Hindu}}</ref> The ''India Corruption Survey 2019'' by [[Transparency International]] declared Kerala the least-corrupt state in India.<ref>{{Cite book|title=India Corruption Survey 2019 - Report|last=|publisher=Transparency International India|year=2019|location=|pages=22|url=https://transparencyindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/India-Corruption-Survey-2019.pdf}}</ref> The state topped in the country to achieve the [[Sustainable Development Goals]] according to the annual report of [[NITI Aayog]] published in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kerala tops sustainable development goals index|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/kerala-tops-sustainable-development-goals-index-11577729046641.html|last=Gireesh Chandra Prasad|date=30 December 2019|access-date=4 December 2020|work=Livemint}}</ref> The Public Affairs Index-2020 released by the Public Affairs Centre, India, designated Kerala as the best governed Indian state.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa best governed States: report|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-goa-and-chandigarh-best-governed-states-ut-report/article32985716.ece|last=PTI|date=30 October 2020|access-date=20 June 2021|work=The Hindu}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
* {{Citation|title=Chief Ministers, Ministers, and Leaders of Opposition of Kerala|last=|publisher=Secratriat of [[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala Legislature]]|year=2018|location=[[Thiruvananthapuram]]|url=https://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/14kla/chief%20ministers,%20ministers,%20leaders%20of%20opposition.pdf}}
* {{Cite book|title=Mathrubhumi Yearbook Plus - 2019 (Malayalam Edition)|publisher=P. V. Chandran, Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Limited, Kozhikode|year=2018|location=Kozhikode|last=Chandran |first=VP}}
* {{cite book|author=Menon, A. Sreedhara |title=A Survey of Kerala History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C|year=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126415786}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.kerala.gov.in}}

{{Topics related to Kerala}}
{{Kerala}}
{{Government of Kerala}}
{{United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
{{Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
{{Government of India by state or territory}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Government of Kerala]]

Government of Kerala - Revision history

UpdateBot at 05:09, 28 May 2022