Chennai
oi-Swastika Sruti
Tamil Nadu’s ruling TVK government has announced a proposal to provide official vehicles to all MLAs, but the move has already triggered a political dispute. The opposition DMK has decided not to accept the offer, arguing that the state should not spend additional public money on such facilities when its finances are under pressure.
Tamil Nadu’s government proposed giving official vehicles and monthly allowances to all MLAs, but the opposition DMK rejected the offer, citing the state’s financial pressures and calling it a non-priority expense.
DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Friday that all 59 DMK MLAs had agreed to reject the proposed benefit.
Why Did DMK Reject The Free Vehicle Offer?
Udhayanidhi Stalin said the decision was taken in view of the state government’s repeated claims about Tamil Nadu’s financial condition.
“Since the TVK government has been saying from day one after assuming power that the government is in debt, all 59 DMK MLAs have decided not to avail this offer,” he said, according to ANI.
He also questioned whether every MLA actually needs a government vehicle and suggested that the government first examine the financial position and existing vehicle ownership of legislators.
The DMK leader said the government should check the election affidavits of MLAs to determine whether they already own vehicles and whether they genuinely require the facility.
DMK Calls Vehicle Scheme A Non-Priority Expense
Saravanan Annadurai, who is an aide to the DMK, too, lambasted the plan, saying that the money would have better use elsewhere.
How was it possible for the government to make such an initiative after making such a statement about the economic woes of the state?
Annadurai opined that the government should not squander money in something which he called a luxury because there are other more pressing issues to attend to.
Vijay Government Defends The Proposal
The government, however, has defended the decision.
“As far as the intentions of the Chief Minister go, he had thought of providing equal treatment for each of the MLAs,” commented Minister Adhav Arjuna. As per the minister,
there were some legislators who did not have the necessary resources to buy a vehicle.
“Having vehicles is not a matter of luxury for the MLA; rather, it is an essential requirement,” maintained the minister. “For conducting themselves in the constituencies and going around checking public works, the MLAs require transport.”
Why Did Vijay Announce Vehicles For All MLAs?
The initiative was taken following the raising of the issue of transport problems by the VCK MLA LE Jothimani. During the suo motu case on August 12, the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay observed that several MLAs lacked vehicles to travel to the Secretariat and even to monitor development work in their constituencies.
Following this, the Chief Minister announced that government vehicles would be given to all members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
According to the plan, MLAs would also be given ₹75,000 per month towards expenses like fuel, salaries of drivers and maintenance of the vehicle. Besides, another amount of ₹25,000 would be offered to hire an assistant for office purposes.
