Lucknow:
In a controversial move, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today proposed that MLAs, who do not have a car of their own, should be allowed to buy a car using state funds if they need one to survey work in their constituencies. The controversial move now allows legislators in Uttar Pradesh to buy a car worth Rs 20 lakh. This means a whopping Rs 81 crore will be spent if all 403 MLAs in the state decided to buy cars.
The money for buying a car will come from the 'development funds' which each MLA gets for his constituency. This means money to be used for for schools, hand-pumps, roads and other developmental activity can now be spent on luxurious cars. After this decision, the fund has been increased by Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore.
Mr Yadav also proposed that cars could be returned to the government after 5 years or be bought by the MLA at a depreciated value.
After Mr Yadav made the controversial announcement in the state assembly today, most political leaders from the state rejected the proposal.
"This is not a sound policy decision. This money is for development, and it's being used for a personal work. Our party has decided not to use it," said BJP's Kalraj Mishra.
Leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya said, "This is not appropriate. This will not send a right signal amongst the people. BSP's MLA's will not take cars from their funds."
Some from within Mr Yadav's party have also rejected this option. K Ravi Das Mehrotra, an MLA from the Samajwadi Party, said he will not buy a car as it was public money, but would use the money for developing his area.
As Akhilesh Yadav faced flak for this decision, his party came out staunchly defending their Chief Minister. "There are some MLAs who can't afford a car. This scheme is meant for them," senior Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh's Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan said.
According to reports, the Akhilesh Yadav government is already struggling with funds for its populist schemes like free laptops tablets and an unemployment allowance for the youth.