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Samata Party president George Fernandes on Thursday called for a constitutional amendment to ensure that the strength of ministries at the Centre and in the states did not exceed 10 per cent of Parliament or state legislatures.
Big cabinets were leading to the erosion of democratic values in the country, Fernandes, who is also the defence minister, said in New Delhi.
The Samata Party will try to persuade the government to act on the suggestion, he said, adding even the Sarkaria Commission had advocated the need for such a legislation.
He regretted that membership of the council of ministers had come to be understood by many either as a "matter of status or a position for aggrandisement".
The rush for procuring ministerial berths in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur had led to an utterly chaotic situation wherein all democratic norms had been mocked at, he said, adding the central government had accepted the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.
"However, the recommendations have not yet been implemented," he said, adding that could be done either through a constitutional amendment or "simple law".
Fernandes said in 1991 he had introduced a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha proposing a ceiling on the strength of the council of ministers to contribute to the stability of governments and put an end to horse-trading, "which has become the bane of our politics".
He said his party had decided to launch a campaign on this issue.
Asked whether his party still insisted on a midterm review of the government's divestment policy, Fernandes answered in the affirmative.
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