Under mounting public criticism, Odisha BJP MLAs urge CM to reconsider their salary hike

Buckling under massive public resentment over the proposed 200% salary hike for lawmakers, Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs have urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the proposal and hold a fresh discussion on the issue.

The issue of lawmakers’ salary hike and widespread criticism from people were discussed in a meeting attended by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Ministers, MLAs and senior party office bearers including president Manmohan Samal and General Secretary (Organisation) Manas Kumar Mahanty, in BJP office here on Thursday.

Emerging from the meeting, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, “we had discussion on passage of a bill concerning to revision of salary of MLAs and pension of former MLAs. Respecting people’s opinion, all BJP MLAs, through signed memorandum, have urged CM to reconsider and schedule a debate on the issue again.”

The revision of MLAs’ salaries appears to have dented the image of the 18-month-old Mohan Majhi government. The proposed hike of over 200% would place Odisha’s legislators ahead of their counterparts in all other States, a message that reportedly did not go down well with the BJP’s central leadership.

Compounding the government’s discomfort was former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s announcement that he would forgo the enhanced salary, a move that delivered a moral jolt to the BJP dispensation.

Mr. Patnaik, however, also attracted criticism for what opponents described as a double standard. Critics pointed out that the BJD supremo neither opposed the Bill on the floor of the House nor directed party MLAs to vote against it. “The announcement appeared more like grandstanding, as his resistance to salary hike lacked seriousness,” they said.

As per bills passed almost unanimously in winter session of Odisha Legislative Assembly, Odisha CM would draw ₹3,74,000 per month while his deputies would receive package of ₹3,68,000. Per month salary of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of States stood at ₹3,62,000 and ₹3,56,000 respectively. Only CPI (M) MLA Laxman Munda had opposed the bill.

Under the revised framework, an MLA would draw a consolidated package of ₹3,45,000 per month against ₹1.10 lakh per month in 2017. Former MLAs would get above ₹1.20 lakh as pension – more than three-fold hike compared to their last salary and pension.

The Bill has, however, not received assent of Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati. Civil society organisations and Left parties have opposed the sharp increase in salary of lawmakers.