Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has urged the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the state government’s decision of enhancing the salaries and allowances of MLAs amid public outrage.
Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik had earlier refused to accept the salary hike and had written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging reconsideration.
BJD spokesperson Pramila Mallik stated saying “We would like to request the Chief Minister to reconsider the salary hike, keeping in view the public’s dissatisfaction.”
The bill’s passage has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many calling for its reconsideration.
Earlier, the ruling BJP MLAs had submitted a written petition to the Chief Minister Majhi, urging a reconsideration of the Bills passed in the Odisha Assembly on December 9.
It is pertinent to note that the Odisha Assembly recently passed four Bills without any dissenting voice, significantly enhancing the salaries and allowances of MLAs, as well as those of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Minister.
With the revision of salaries and pensions, Odisha’s MLAs also joined the ranks of the highest-paid legislators in the country.
