Shillong, Feb. 16 : The North East MPs’ Forum has decided to urge the Centre to amend the downsizing law and increase the number of cabinet berths in the 60-member Assemblies of the Northeast states from the present 12 to at least 18.
Except for Assam, small states like Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura have 60-member Houses. Mizoram, with 40 legislators, can also have 12 ministers.
Since all these small states are allowed only 12 ministers each, the chief ministers are forced to juggle berths and struggle to satisfy senior members who cannot be accommodated in the ministry.
The infighting has resulted in frequent change of governments in Meghalaya.
There was a time when Meghalaya had more than 40 ministers in the 60-member House.
Union minister of state for water resources Vincent Pala said over phone that considering the instability factor, there is a growing demand among legislators to increase the number of ministers at least to 18 in case of small states.
He said limited number of ministers may not be able to concentrate on their assigned tasks as they would have to look after several departments.
According to Pala, the matter needs to be taken up in Parliament at the earliest so that the law related to downsizing can be amended.
“The demand from the small states in the Northeast for an increase of quota in the ministry is genuine for the sake of stability,” Pala, who represents Shillong constituency, said.
Shillong, Feb. 16 : The North East MPs’ Forum has decided to urge the Centre to amend the downsizing law and increase the number of cabinet berths in the 60-member Assemblies of the Northeast states from the present 12 to at least 18.
Except for Assam, small states like Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura have 60-member Houses. Mizoram, with 40 legislators, can also have 12 ministers.
Since all these small states are allowed only 12 ministers each, the chief ministers are forced to juggle berths and struggle to satisfy senior members who cannot be accommodated in the ministry.
The infighting has resulted in frequent change of governments in Meghalaya.
There was a time when Meghalaya had more than 40 ministers in the 60-member House.
Union minister of state for water resources Vincent Pala said over phone that considering the instability factor, there is a growing demand among legislators to increase the number of ministers at least to 18 in case of small states.
He said limited number of ministers may not be able to concentrate on their assigned tasks as they would have to look after several departments.
According to Pala, the matter needs to be taken up in Parliament at the earliest so that the law related to downsizing can be amended.
“The demand from the small states in the Northeast for an increase of quota in the ministry is genuine for the sake of stability,” Pala, who represents Shillong constituency, said.
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