Odisha MLAs' Salary Hike Sparks Political Debate

Naveen Patnaik, the leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party in Odisha, India, has decided not to accept a recent three-fold increase in his salary and allowances.

This increase was meant for the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Patnaik said he wants the money to be used to help poor people in the state.

He also mentioned that his family had previously donated their ancestral home, Anand Bhawan in Cuttack, for the benefit of the people.

The salary hike has drawn criticism from various organizations and on social media, pointing out the income gap between legislators and the people they represent.

Some politicians, like Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo and senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra, have criticized Patnaik's decision, saying it is just politics.

However, BJD leader Ganeswar Behera supports the salary hike, stating that the party has been demanding it for years and legislators face daily pressures.

The focus is now on the Governor, whose assent is required for the Bills passed by the State Assembly.