The Sarkaria Commission recommended:
- The governor should be guided by the principle that the party or coalition with the widest support in the Legislative Assembly should be called to form the government.
- The governor’s task is to ensure a government is formed, not to form one that pursues his/her approved policies.
- If no single party has an absolute majority, the governor should select a chief minister by sounding parties/groups in order of preference: pre-election alliance, largest single party with outside support, post-electoral coalition with all partners, post-electoral alliance with outside support.
- A chief minister, unless leading an absolute majority party, should seek a vote of confidence within 30 days.
- If rival claims to majority support arise, the governor should test them on the floor of the House, not outside.