Bengaluru: The govt is considering a hefty hike to salaries of lawmakers (MLAs and MLCs), with a bill expected to be introduced in the ongoing session. While the exact percentage remains undisclosed, sources say a staggering 50% increase is on the cards.
Currently, legislators receive around Rs 3 lakh per month, including perks. If a 50% hike is implemented, their salary will rise to Rs 4.5 lakh per month.
Lawmakers across parties pushed for the increase, citing inflation. They argue that the current salary, which includes 50% perks, is insufficient for routine expenses. This flies in the face of data from the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) which revealed that 97% of Karnataka’s MLAs are crorepatis, with an average declared asset value of Rs 64 crore.
The proposal is even more ludicrous since the last revision was in 2022. Salaries are revised every five years, indexed to inflation, but lawmakers are pushing for an early raise, which is expected to cost the state exchequer an extra over Rs 100 crore annually. It also comes amid a severe financial crunch which the govt is facing.
The issue was discussed at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting Monday and CM Siddaramaiah reportedly responded positively. The high-powered meeting, attended by opposition leader R Ashoka, deputy CM DK Shivakumar, law minister HK Patil, speaker UT Khader, and council chairman Basavaraj Horatti, saw no opposition to the proposal.
Siddaramaiah is now expected to make an announcement in his budget speech on Friday following which the govt may table two amendment bills — the Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bill and the Karnataka Ministers Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill.
During the Belagavi session in Dec, Khader had proposed a pay commission — like the one for govt employees — to determine lawmakers’ salaries. At that time, BJP deputy leader of opposition Arvind Bellad had raised concerns over legislators setting their own salaries. “This is a peculiar system where we lawmakers increase our own salaries and allowances,” Bellad had said. “People don’t appreciate it. We need a pay commission to analyse and review salaries.”
Bellad raised his concern at the BAC meeting but to no avail. It remains to be seen how the govt justifies the move.