The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill effecting a substantial hike in salaries of legislators. (File Photo)
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill effecting a substantial hike in salaries and other emoluments of legislators, a day after Telangana raised the allowances of its lawmakers.
The measure by the AP government is likely to impose an additional financial burden of Rs 30,62,31,300 per annum. Notably, only one MLA (of the opposition YSRC) in the 175-member opposed the salary hike.
Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, however, said his party supported the Bill as YSRC members too were part of the Assembly Amenities Committee that recommended the salary hike.
Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu moved the Bill on behalf of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Yanamala said it was not right to create a controversy over the Bill.
"Never in history was such a Bill discussed (in the House). We have to respect the Amenities Committee," he noted.
As per the legislation passed on Wednesday, which is an amendment to AP Payment of Salaries and Pension and Removal of Disqualifications Act 1953, the monthly salary of each legislator has been enhanced from Rs 95,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh.
The accommodation allowance has been doubled from Rs 25,000, while maximum pension to retired members has also been increased to Rs 50,000.
For the first time, the amended legislation provides for an annual allowance of Rs 20,000 to each member towards magazines and books.
Motor car/ house building advance, which is recoverable, has been doubled to Rs 20 lakh.
However, YSRC member Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy said he was opposing the Bill, according to his conscience.
"The state is reeling under severe financial crisis.
People will not appreciate if we give ourselves a salary hike like this," the first-time MLA from Nellore Rural seat said.
"Conduct a referendum in any one of the 175 constituencies you wish. If people accept the legislators' salary hike, I will not only resign from my post but also not contest any election in future," Mr Sridhar said.
Senior TDP legislator Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy replied saying: "Your leader and you may be crorepati, but there are many ordinary legislators."
"I have been an MLA for four times, but everybody knows what my financial status is. So, the hike is essential," the former minister said.
He also wanted to know if this (opposing the salary hike) was the official stand of the YSRC.
Responding to this, Mr Jagan said he concurred with the views of Sridhar Reddy, but the party as such would not oppose the hike.
"Since my party members are also part of the Committee that recommended the hike, my party doesn't oppose it," Mr Jagan said, but suggested that the government might consider reducing the quantum of hike.
Replying to this, the Finance Minister said the government did not accept Amenities Committee recommendations in toto because of the state's financial position.
"If your party as a whole opposes the hike, I am ready to withdraw the Bill. I can save money," Yanamala said.
While the Amenities Committee recommended a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh, the government cut it to Rs 1.25 lakh.
Also, the car/ (house)building advance was limited to Rs 20 lakh against the recommended Rs 40 lakh, Mr Ramakrishnudu pointed out.
"Given the financial status, we are enhancing the salaries to the best of our possibilities," he added. The House then adopted the Bill by voice vote.