Finance
Legislators from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the state government’s decision to increase the salaries and allowances of MLAs, Ministers, the Chief Minister, the Speaker, and other constitutional office-bearers.
Following a closed-door meeting of BJP MLAs and Ministers at the party’s state office here, Odisha Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling said on Thursday that party legislators have asked for a reconsideration of legislation passed during the previous Assembly session to increase the pensions and salaries of sitting and former legislators.
Chief Minister Majhi and BJP state president Manmohan Samal were also present at the meeting.
Addressing the media, Mahaling stated that the Bill was passed on the floor of the House during the previous Assembly session.
The Act increases the salaries and pensions of MLAs and retired MLAs.
He stated that, in accordance with public sentiment, BJP MLAs had submitted a signed application to the Chief Minister demanding a fresh assessment and reconsideration of the Bill.
“Our government is a people’s government. We respect the mandate and sentiments of the people of Odisha. Keeping this in mind, all BJP MLAs, through a signed application, have appealed to the Chief Minister for a reconsideration of the legislation through consultation and consensus,” Mahaling said.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister underlined that the request has been properly presented to the Chief Minister for appropriate consideration, highlighting the party’s commitment to public interest and transparency.
It is worth noting that the Odisha Assembly just passed four bills with no dissenting votes, dramatically increasing the salaries and allowances of MLAs, as well as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Minister.
Odisha’s MLAs now rank among the highest-paid legislators in the country, thanks to salary and pension revisions.
This measure prompted widespread debate in the state, causing the ruling BJP to reconsider its decision.
Notably, Naveen Patnaik, the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and president of the Biju Janata Dal, had already indicated that he would forego the recently enhanced salary and allowances associated with the LoP’s position, instead requesting that the funds be utilized for the benefit of the poor.
