Big salary hike for MLAs while busmen fight for pay revision

A bill was tabled in the state Assembly on Wednesday, which gives effect to the decision taken by the state government last year to hike the pay for legislators and allowances for the chief minister and ministers with effect from July 1, 2017.

As per the bill, the salary and allowances of legislators have been raised from Rs 55,000 to Rs 1,05,000 per month, an increase of 90.91 per cent. The government was pushing for the implementation of the proposal, announced in July last year, days after refusing a salary hike demanded by striking bus workers, citing losses incurred by the state transport corporations.

The strike by the transport workers on this issue is in its seventh day. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam introduced the MLAs’ salary hike bill which was opposed by DMK whip R Sakkarapani.

Ahead of Wednesday’s tabling of the bill, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly MK Stalin said he did not agree to the idea of a hike in the present situation. “People will laugh at this hike when transport workers are on strike for a salary hike,” he said.

TTV Dinakaran also objected to the move. “It is not at all necessary. I am opposing it,” he told reporters outside the House, adding that he believed Palaniswami was doubling the salary of his legislators to ensure their loyalty.