Now, BJD seeks reconsideration of salary hike in Odisha

A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the threefold hike in legislators’ salaries, the Biju Janata Dal legislators on Friday (December 19, 2025) followed suit, appealing for a review of the proposal.

Several Bills proposing steep rise in salaries of CM, deputy CM, ministers, Leader of Opposition, Speaker and MLAs were passed in winter session of Assembly that concluded earlier this month. The Bills are yet to become Act, pending the Governor’s assent.

“BJD President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik himself wrote to CM stating that he would not accept the increased salary requesting that the amount be spent on welfare measures for the poor. Respecting public sentiment, and as per direction of party supremo, the BJD MLAs have appealed CM to reconsider the salary hike decision,” said Pramila Mallick, BJD chief whip, and Pratap Deb, BJD deputy chief whip, at a press conference.

“The Bills on enhancing the salaries of MLAs and the pensions of former MLAs, were unanimously passed on December 9. The hike in salary had, however, created massive public resentment,” said Ms. Mallick.

When the Bills proposing a tripling of lawmakers’ salaries were tabled in the 147-member Odisha Assembly, only CPI(M) MLA Laxman Munda opposed the move. The Bills were otherwise passed almost unanimously.

Had the Bills received the assent of Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and come into force, the Chief Minister would have drawn ₹3,74,000 per month while his deputies would have received package of ₹3,68,000. Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of States would have earned ₹3,62,000 and ₹3,56,000 respectively.

Under the revised salary structure, an MLA will would have drawn a consolidated package of ₹3,45,000 per month against ₹1.10 lakh per month in 2017. Former MLAs’ pension would have shot up to ₹1.20 lakh, more than three-fold hike compared to their present pension.

This is seen as a rare instance of legislators being compelled to reconsider a salary hike in the face of widespread public opposition.