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| Govt may amend Constitution to address ministerial aspirations | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 5-Following growing demand from legislators for induction in the cabinet will the National Conference led Government issue an ordinance for amending that provision of the constitution that limits the size of the council of ministers? Under the existing constitutional provision the size of the ministry has to be limited to 20 per cent of the total number of seats in the two houses of the state legislature and the size of the ministry cannot exceed 25. However, if indications are any guide, the ruling alliance is likely to bring an ordinance to amend the constitution paying way for increasing the present strength of the council of ministers.
When Omar Abdullah expanded his 10-member cabinet in July last he inducted 13 new faces. There is scope for addition of two legislators in the ministry. But party sources said that both the National Conference and the Congress are under tremendous pressure from legislators who have been seeking further expansion of the council of ministers .The sources said that the leadership of the Congress and the National Conference were toying with the idea of issuing an ordinance so that the size of the ministry was fixed at 30 per cent of the total strength of the seats in the Assembly and the legislative council. If it was done 13 more faces could get a chance to get inducted in the council of ministers.
A senior National Conference leader today said that when the PDP led coalition Government ruled the state there were 39 ministers headed by Mufti Mohammed.Sayeed. He said no doubt the constitution was amended when Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister the political arrangement warrants a bigger ministry size. He explained that in case of a coalition Government one has to take into account the urges and aspirations of the two or more parties. He said that if the National Conference alone ruled the state there was still the demand for enlarging the size of the ministry. He said at least 60 per cent legislators need to get berth in the council of ministers.
A Congress leader said that the problem of dissensions in the party was the result of small size of the ministry. He was candid when he stated that every elected member wishes to become a minister. He said the Congress will support if the National Conference piloted an ordinance, which was to be promulgated by the Governor. He said that since the Assembly was not in session the demand for expanding the ministry could be fulfilled only through issuance of an ordinance. He said since the ruling alliance has the requisite majority in the Assembly it could get the ordinance ratified by the legislature later.
However, BJP and Panthers Party leaders said that increasing the ministry would negate the stand the National Conference had taken during the PDP-Congress coalition rule. They said the then leader of the opposition in the Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, had been instrumental in motivating Azad in getting the state constitution amended so that the size of the ministry was restricted. The BJP and the Panthers leaders said that further expansion in the council of ministers could be a burden on the state exchequer.
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