Kohima, Jan. 16: Cutting across party lines, Nagaland’s legislators have protested the Centre’s decision to trim the size of ministries.

Even the Speaker has asked New Delhi to “exempt” the state from the legislation curtailing jumbo ministries, citing Nagaland’s special status.

A delegation from the state, led by Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie and comprising a host of ministers, has met Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi and submitted a memorandum opposing the bill.

The delegation, which included ministers Shurhozelie, K. Therie, Huska Sumi, M.C. Konyak, Khutovi Sema, Doshehe Sema and Yitachu, returned on Wednesday.

Nagaland, with 60 Assembly seats, has 37 ministers, including chief minister Neiphiu Rio. Rio faces the unenviable task of whittling the number down to 12.

The bone of contention between the Rio government and the Centre has been Article 164 (1A) in the Constitution (91st Amendment) Act, 2003 and the presidential notification of January 7 this year.

The Nagaland government has already expressed dissatisfaction over the move to slash the number of ministers. It has termed the bill an “infringement of the special status of Nagaland”. The state has complained that though the bill affects Article 371A, New Delhi had gone ahead with its enactment without exempting Nagaland.

There is practically a consensus among various political parties in the state that the ministry should not be downsized. “This is not good for Nagaland and the northeastern states,” iterated leader of the Opposition I. Imkong.

The delegation claimed Article 164 (1A) and the notification seriously infringe upon the constitutional guarantees provided to the people of Nagaland. These were originally contained in the 16-point Agreement and later enshrined in Article 371A of the Constitution and the State of Nagaland Act, 1962.

The state government argued that owing to the multiplicity of tribes in Nagaland, the question of due representation for every tribe was very important.

“The restriction on the size of the council of ministers as envisaged in the bill will deny many of the tribes representation in the ministry and, thereby, make it impossible to carry on the governance of the state in accordance with the customary practices of the Nagas,” the memorandum stated.

The state government has claimed the bill would impede social and economic development of the various tribes in the state.