Assembly hikes pay for ministers, legislators

Kerala’s Legislative Assembly unanimously passed legislation on Thursday increasing the salaries and allowances of ministers and MLAs, while also approving higher pensions for former legislators. The measure raises the monthly remuneration package for an MLA to Rs 98,000.

The legislation secured support from both the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front and the opposition Left Democratic Front. The Governor’s prior recommendation was obtained before its introduction because the proposed changes entail additional expenditure from the state exchequer.

Under the revision, an MLA’s monthly salary and allowances rise from approximately Rs 70,000 to Rs 98,000, an increase of Rs 28,000, or 40 per cent. Some accounts place the previous entitlement at Rs 69,000, reflecting differences in how individual components are counted. The revised amount covers remuneration and allowances rather than basic salary alone.

Ministers’ monthly package will increase to approximately Rs 1.33 lakh from Rs 1.08 lakh, representing an additional Rs 25,000. The changes extend beyond monthly payments to constituency expenses, travel allowances and other benefits associated with legislative responsibilities.

The Assembly approved the measure after the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister V D Satheesan, cleared the proposal on Wednesday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sunny Joseph had said that the government was considering a revision following consultations with leaders of political parties.

Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan welcomed the absence of disagreement over the legislation. He observed that the last salary revision had taken place in 2018 and that legislators had spoken about the financial pressures arising from their official duties and increasing expenses.

The Speaker also sought an additional personal assistant for each MLA. The Chief Minister responded that the request would be considered favourably, although no separate decision authorising the additional appointment was announced during the proceedings.

The legislation provides for an increase in pensions paid to former MLAs. Pension entitlements have been linked to the duration of legislative service, with the existing framework providing different amounts according to the number of years served. The precise revised pension slabs were not immediately detailed in the accounts of Thursday’s proceedings.

The remuneration package incorporates several allowances intended to meet the expenses of constituency representation. Legislators receive support for maintaining offices, communicating with constituents, travelling within and outside the state and undertaking official engagements. These provisions are distinct from the basic salary component.

The proposed adjustments also cover travel-related benefits and fuel coupons. The annual fuel coupon entitlement for serving MLAs is set to increase from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, while the corresponding provision for former members is expected to rise from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Allowances for legislative staff are also being revised, with the allocation for staff expenses increasing from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. Such payments are designed to support constituency and administrative work and should not be confused with unrestricted personal income for the elected representatives.

The government based its decision on an examination of remuneration arrangements and the cost of fulfilling legislative responsibilities. Ministers had pointed to higher living expenses, transport costs and the financial demands of maintaining constituency offices as reasons for considering an increase.

The pay revision comes against the backdrop of continuing concern about Kerala’s public finances. The decision commits additional public money to elected representatives and former members, although a consolidated estimate of the annual fiscal burden was not available in the details disclosed alongside the Assembly’s decision.

The unanimous vote means that the proposal encountered no division between the principal political fronts. It nevertheless remains a legislative measure requiring the remaining constitutional formalities before its provisions acquire statutory effect. Prior approval for introduction is distinct from the Governor’s assent to an enacted bill.

The legislation also addresses the practical costs of legislative work, which members have argued cannot be adequately covered by existing allowances. Constituency representatives frequently maintain offices both in their constituencies and at the state capital. Expenses associated with travel, communications and administrative assistance formed part of the discussions preceding the Cabinet’s approval of the proposed revision.

The Assembly subsequently adjourned sine die, bringing the current sitting to an end after completing its scheduled business. The remuneration legislation was among the measures taken up on the final day, following the Cabinet’s decision to proceed with the revision.