The deputy chief minister is the deputy to the chief minister, who is the chief executive of the Indian state. The governor appoints the deputy chief minister, who is the second-highest-ranking member in the council of ministers of the respective state. A deputy chief minister also holds a cabinet portfolio in the state ministry. In the legislative assembly system of government, the deputy chief minister is treated as the "first among equals" in the cabinet; the position of deputy chief minister is used to govern the state with the support of a single party member, to bring political stability and strength within a coalition government, or in times of state emergency when a proper chain of command is necessary. On multiple occasions, proposals have arisen to make the post permanent, but without result. The same goes for the post of deputy prime minister at the national level. Given that she has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.[1]
Since 1998, India has had seven female deputy chief ministers. The first woman to become deputy chief minister was Jamuna Devi of the Indian National Congress party, who was sworn in on 1 December 1998 as deputy chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. She was the longest-serving female deputy chief minister. Pamula Pushpa Sreevani of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party is the youngest and first member of the state party to become the female deputy chief minister. Only 6 states in India had female deputy chief ministers out of 28 states and 3 union territories that have legislature systems. Pravati Parida of Odisha and Diya Kumari of Rajasthan are the female incumbent deputy chief ministers in India.