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Sources indicate that some MLAs are pushing for a 30-40 per cent salary increase and the state government has reportedly acknowledged the demand and pledged to examine it
Karnataka’s law minister confirmed that chief minister Siddaramaiah was considering sanctioning Rs 20 crore for building the Legislators’ Club in Bengaluru. (PTI)
Karnataka legislators are considering a substantial pay increase for themselves in a move that could spark controversy amid the state’s current financial challenges, according to exclusive information obtained by CNN-News18.
The potential hike, discussed during Monday’s Business Advisory Committee meeting, comes as another Congress MLA called for significant funding for the Legislators’ Club in Bengaluru.
Sources indicate that some MLAs are pushing for a 30-40 per cent salary increase. The state government has reportedly acknowledged the demand and pledged to examine it. However, plans to establish an independent committee to determine MLA salary revisions have been dismissed.
Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil confirmed that the government was introducing a bill to revise the salaries of the chief minister, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and all MLAs. “We will bring in a legislation soon for salary revisions to legislators. Percentage is to be decided. We will bring a legislation for salary revision,” he said.
The minister confirmed that the chief minister was considering sanctioning Rs 20 crore for building the Legislators’ Club. “There were complaints about no facilities at the guest house. This issue was mentioned. The Speaker has spoken to the CM, who said that he would consider this proposal,” said Patil.
Adding to the fiscal concerns, Congress MLA Ashok Pattan has reportedly requested substantial funds for the Legislators’ Club. Some members have even urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to allocate Rs 20 crore to the facility. A club for legislators has been a long-pending demand and the government has zeroed in on the heritage Balbrooie Guest House to set up the club.
The move to increase salaries follows a substantial salary revision in 2022, which saw significant increases for MLAs, MLCs, ministers, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and the Leader of Opposition. At that time, monthly salaries for MLAs and MLCs rose from Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000, while pension for legislators completing a single term increased from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000.
Furthermore, travel allowances increased from Rs 25 to Rs 35 per kilometer, regardless of the mode of transport. Daily allowances for meetings within Karnataka rose from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500, and those outside the state increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000. Local transport allowances outside Karnataka doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. The monthly constituency allowance also saw a significant jump, from Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000.
The potential new pay hike and funding demands have raised questions about fiscal responsibility during a period when the state has struggled to clear the bills of contractors and is reeling under abysmal allocation to backward regions of Kalyana Karnataka.