In a move termed “controversial and retrograde”, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav told the Assembly on Tuesday that legislators can use Rs 20 lakhs from their constituency development fund to buy personal vehicles.
He also increased the MLAs’ fund, better known as “Vidhayak Nidhi”, by Rs 25 lakhs from the existing Rs 1.25 crore to Rs 1.5 crore.
“Despite a financial crisis, the SP government fulfilled all promises it made in the party manifesto. We entitle MLAs to purchase vehicles up to Rs 20 lakhs from their local area development fund,” Mr Akhilesh Yadav announced in the Assembly.
He said the value of the vehicle will be depreciated on a yearly basis, and at the end of five years legislators can buy the vehicles in their own name at the depreciated value. He added that the government will not pay for maintenance of the vehicles.
This comes at a time when Uttar Pradesh has sought a financial package from the Centre to tide over its financial crisis. If all MLAs buy a vehicle worth Rs 20 lakhs, the cost to the exchequer would be around Rs 80.6 crores.
The Opposition rejected the offer, with the BJP, BSP and Congress saying their MLAs would not avail of it. “It will not send a good message to the electorate,” said BJP leader Hukum Singh.