India, Feb. 27 -- India currently has 28 states and three union territories (UTs) with a state legislature. Before the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur, there were 31 chief ministers and 26 deputy chief ministers in the country.

The post of a deputy chief minister is not constitutionally mandated unlike the council of ministers and appointing one is a purely political decision to create one or more than one second among equals (the first being the chief minister) in the state executive.

Has the trend of appointing deputy chief ministers become stronger over the years?

Are deputy chief ministers more likely in alliance governments ?

Are some parties more likely to appoint deputy chief ministers than others?

Is balancing caste...