The Tamil Nadu government is planning to provide official cars to MLAs of all parties.
Tamil Nadu: Thalapathy Vijay’s government plans to provide government cars to all MLAs in Tamil Nadu. According to sources, there is a proposal to give this facility to all 234 MLAs, regardless of the party’s position in the assembly.
Apart from this, MLAs can also be given petrol-diesel and monthly allowance for drivers. However, the Chief Minister may make an announcement in this regard in the upcoming assembly session.
This proposal has come after the demand of VK MLA from Kattumanarkoil LE Jothimani. According to a senior government official, many MLAs, especially first-time elected representatives, are traveling by bus or hiring private taxis to go to their constituencies. As a result, they have to spend a large portion of their own income on transportation.
More problems for first-time MLAs: About 146 MLAs have been elected for the first time in the 234-member assembly. Among them, a large number of MLAs are said to be associated with TVK.
According to the newly elected MLAs, they are facing problems in meeting people and officials in their constituencies due to lack of government lanes. According to them, if government cars are available, they can reach people’s problems faster.
As per the proposal, the purchase of vehicles is likely to be done through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). GeM is the digital public procurement platform of the central government.
Demands have been raised before: A senior DMK MLA said, “Previous governments did not accept such demands citing the financial situation.” He said, the heads of municipalities and local bodies are already getting government lanes, but MLAs are not getting this facility.
It is worth noting that former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami increased the monthly salary and allowances of MLAs from Rs 55,000 to Rs 1.05 lakh in 2017.
Apart from this, the MLAs get Rs 500 per day allowance for assembly and committee meetings, free travel in government buses, annual railway allowance of Rs 20,000 and accommodation in the MLA hostel.
