As the budget session of the state assembly drew a close on Wednesday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy had some good news for the legislators. Now, was that a move to keep them in good humour so that the government could stabilise and plough on for its full term, only time will tell.
Tamil Nadu MLAs approved a 100 percent salary hike for themselves. The MLAs who were drawing Rs 55,000 as salary per month will earn Rs 1,05,000 from next month. The generous hike in the salary has come at a time when the MPs are demanding a hike in the parliament and it is still pending.
Palanisamy’s generosity did not end there. The constituency development fund too will go up from Rs 2 crore to Rs 6 crore, which is a bonanza for the legislators. In fact, sources close the government say that the decision was taken unanimously. The government, which is already facing a financial crunch with its growing stress on state’s finances, will have to shell out at least by Rs 1000 crore every month. In fact, the latest budget presented by Finance Minister D. Jayakumar indicated the falling revenues and increasing expenditure.
According to the RBI handbook of statistics on Indian states, Tamil Nadu’s finances are horrendous and the fiscal deficit has tripled in the last three years.
However, the legislators seem to be happy over the hike. Apparently, two reasons are being whispered in the corridors of the secretariat. One of the MLAS, be it from the ruling or the opposition party, do not want an election immediately. The hike only shows how the new dispensation under Palanisamy wants to keep all the legislators in good books.
