An independent panel appointed by the Delhi government to revise the salaries of the state legislators has recommended a whopping over 300% increase in their basic salary.
If the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government implements the panel's proposals, the basic salary of the MLAs in the national capital territory (NCT) will rise to Rs 50,000 per month from the existing Rs 12,000 a month.
Besides a hike in basic salary, the panel has made proposals for "exponential" increase in many allowances as part of the legislators' pay package.
The pay panel recommended to increase the conveyance allowance to Rs 30,000 from Rs 6,000 and communication allowance to Rs 10,000 from Rs 8,000.
The MLAs will also get office rent allowance of Rs 25,000 if the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government accepts the recommendations. Overall, the total cost to the exchequer would increase to Rs 2.35 lakh per MLA per month.
Opposition parties attacked the AAP government for "intending such an ambitious pay hike".
"Unfortunate that a party which calls itself Aam Aadmi party want a 400 percent salary hike for MLAs," India.com quoted Congress leader Ajay Maken as saying.
"Before elections he is something else. After the polls, his real character is exposed," said Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay.
The demand to increase salaries of the MLAs was "raised" by four AAP legislators in August, who cited insufficient funds to manage monthly expenses.
