In accordance with the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister.

Following elections to the legislative assembly, the state's governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government.

Given the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.

[2] Ten people have served as the state's chief minister since its formation on 9 November 2000.

Seven of them, including the inaugural officeholder Nityanand Swami and the incumbent Pushkar Singh Dhami represented the (BJP) while the rest represented the Indian National Congress.