1. In a hung Assembly, the Gov can ask parties to show support letters or alliances - but the actual majority test happens only on the floor of the House under Article 164.

2. SC judgments like S.R. Bommai case, recent Maharashtra political crisis case 2022 established that a government’s majority must be tested through a floor test , not through subjective satisfaction of the Governor.

3. Raj Bhavan is NOT the place where majority is finally decided. The Legislative Assembly is.

4. However, governors do have discretionary powers when no party gets a clear majority - especially in deciding whom to invite first to form government.

5. The controversy here is about the deadline. Critics argue that asking a party to “prove majority tonight” bypasses normal constitutional convention.

6. Constitutional convention usually works like this:
Claim > Invitation to form govt > Swearing-in > Floor Test within few days.

7. This episode again raises the larger federalism debate:

Should Governors have such wide discretionary powers in government formation ??

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