Ministry size: BJP proposes new ceiling

There is a change in the BJP stand on the size of ministries. Having proposed a ceiling of 10 per cent of the strength of legislatures on ministries in the 97th Constitution Amendment Bill, it has now mooted a ceiling of 15 per cent. The amendment bill moved by the Government is presently before standing committees.

The new idea came from none else than Dy PM L.K. Advani at a function at BJP headquarters to mark the birth centenary of Jaya Prakash Narayan today. Advani said it was more prudent to fix the limit at 15 per cent. ‘‘It is at the thinking-aloud stage,’’ he said, adding ‘‘we will do it after consulting our allies and other parties’’. Advani said the 15 per cent limit, set at the first stage, may be brought down to 10 pc later.

BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu said that efforts were on to build a consensus on the issue in standing committees. The government may even move a new bill, he added. The party, during the Janata Party rule, had resolved to limit the number of ministers in its government at the Centre and in the states to 10 per cent. However, the idea got lost as the Janata Party disintegrated. The BJP revived the idea after coming to power at the Centre.

Sources say the government was under pressure from its allies to adopt a more pragmatic approach. In an age when coalitions are the order of the day, the 10 per cent ceiling may make it impossible for any major partner to accommodate all its allies in the government.