Equitable ministerial posts need of the hour
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 26, 2022 -
CONSIDERING the fact that selection process of the BJP legislative party leader got delayed purportedly due to multiple contenders for the chief minister's post, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if the MLAs start lobbying with the top leaders to seal ministerial berths.
In Manipur's context of electoral politics where the pre-poll primary objective of the candidates is to get the stamp of approval of the ruling parties, it is only on expected lines that after winning the election one's intention would be to find a place in the council of ministers.
Since long, there has been a concept among the political class that sans ministerial portfolios they couldn't perform anything worthwhile in-spite of receiving comprehensive mandate.
Regardless of the fact that framing and implementing developmental projects will depend largely on how opulently the centre would provide the funds, all the state's legislators believe that induction in the cabinet would help live up to their electors' expectation to a great extent as is evident from most of the assembly constituencies represented by the opposition MLAs lagging behind in various aspects compared to those segments having ministers or members from the ruling party.
The development deficit is also most glaring in the rural areas unlike the constituencies in the urban pockets, especially those in and around the capital city, where basic amenities like power supply, tap water connectivity and roadways are comparatively better.
Thus, all the elected representatives eye for ministerial posts due to inadequacy of the MLA local area development fund to execute major projects.
While patronage of the Union government and generous fund provision are essential for holistic development of the state, it's an undeniable fact that the MLAs' clamour for inclusion in the council of ministerial is to either undertake constituency-specific development projects or appease the hard-core political workers through provision of contract assignments and job appointments.
Unlike in the past when there were no limitations on size of the cabinet, Manipur presently cannot exceed 12 members in the council of ministers, consequently triggering frantic race among MLAs in this era of coalition government to secure ministerial berths.
However, it is rather fortunate in the second term of the N Biren-led government that only the BJP and its ally NPF would be helming the affairs making it relatively convenient to pick the ministers.
While dissent among the left-out MLAs is unavoidable, the new government may work out allocation of the portfolios on the basis of number of seats secured in the election.
To curb any misgivings, the government needs to distribute the portfolios based on percentage of MLAs.
With six MLAs, including the chief minister, already guaranteed ministerial posts, the selection process for the remaining six ministers should be out-rightly fair and transparent, for ultimate objective of the government should be towards taking the whole state to the path of development.
The choice might be tough but the new government could make the task easier if selection for the remaining ministerial berths could be carried out impartially centred on the percentage of seats secured by the respective alliance partners.
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