Cars, ₹75,000 Monthly Allowance and Secretaries: Vijay Government Announces Big Perks for Tamil Nadu MLAs
Chennai:Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has announced a major package of benefits for all 234 MLAs in the state, including government vehicles, a monthly allowance of ₹75,000 for driver, fuel and maintenance expenses, and financial support to hire a secretary.
The announcement was made in the Tamil Nadu Assembly after VCK MLA Jothimani raised concerns about the difficulties faced by legislators while travelling to their constituencies and carrying out their responsibilities. She argued that MLAs need proper logistical support to effectively address public grievances and monitor local issues.
Responding to the request, Chief Minister Vijay said the government would provide vehicles to all MLAs to make it easier for them to travel frequently to their constituencies and remain accessible to the people.
Vijay defended the decision by saying that elected representatives need reliable transport to meet residents, understand their problems and monitor development work. He also pointed out that several members of the current Assembly are first-time legislators who come from modest financial backgrounds.
“MLAs need to travel to their constituencies frequently to address people’s problems. Government vehicle will ensure transparent and corruption-free governance,” Vijay said while announcing the measure.
Under the new arrangement, each of the state’s 234 MLAs will receive access to a government vehicle. The government will also provide ₹75,000 per month towards expenses related to the vehicle, including the driver, fuel and maintenance.
The government has additionally announced a ₹25,000 state grant for each MLA to hire a secretary to assist with official work.
Vijay said the objective was to ensure that financial limitations do not prevent elected representatives from carrying out their responsibilities effectively. He said the support would particularly benefit first-time MLAs and those who do not have significant financial resources.
The announcement received an enthusiastic response from several legislators, particularly members of the ruling party and its allies.
TVK MLA Sabari Iyngaran shared her own experience while welcoming the decision. She said that before becoming an MLA, she did not have a car or a job and often travelled to Chennai by train.
She recalled that when she arrived at the Assembly by auto-rickshaw, police personnel sometimes found it difficult to believe that she was an MLA until she showed her identity card.
Her remarks highlighted the financial and logistical challenges that some newly elected legislators may face while adjusting to their responsibilities.
Another TVK MLA, Sindhu, expressed her happiness over the announcement in a more unusual way. She sang the popular MGR song “Kodutthathellam Kodutthan” in the Assembly as a gesture of appreciation. Vijay was seen smiling as other MLAs applauded and thumped their desks.
Congress MLA Tharagai Cuthbert, whose party is an ally of Vijay’s TVK, also welcomed the announcement. She said the decision would make legislators happy and suggested that even opposition MLAs would appreciate the move, although they might hesitate to publicly praise the government.
School Education Minister Raj Mohan also supported the decision and said the benefits could extend beyond helping MLAs. According to him, providing vehicles and support staff would also generate employment opportunities for drivers and secretaries.
However, the announcement has drawn criticism from the opposition DMK, which questioned whether the state should spend such a large amount of public money on additional facilities for legislators.
The opposition argued that providing vehicles to all 234 MLAs, along with monthly allowances and other support, could place a significant financial burden on the state government.
The DMK described the decision as an unnecessary expense and questioned the overall cost of the package.
The government, on the other hand, maintains that the expenditure is justified because MLAs are required to travel extensively within their constituencies to meet citizens, address grievances and oversee development projects.
The debate has therefore centred on whether the new facilities should be viewed as necessary logistical support for elected representatives or as an avoidable financial burden on the state.
For the Vijay government, the stated aim is to make it easier for every MLA, regardless of their personal financial background, to perform their duties effectively and remain connected with voters.
With all 234 MLAs set to receive vehicle support and additional financial assistance, the announcement represents a significant expansion of facilities available to Tamil Nadu legislators. The opposition’s criticism, however, means the cost and necessity of the scheme are likely to remain a subject of political debate in the state.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
