Battle in Kerala
With all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala at stake in the second phase of polling tomorrow, the electoral drama unfolds with its usual intensity, underscoring the unique political landscape of the state.
Even as Kerala is facing an unprecedented financial crisis ministers and MLAs in the state are likely to get a hike in their allowances based on the report of a single-member commission constituted by the state government.
The Justice CN Ramachandran Nair Commission, constituted to study the possibility of raising the salary of legislators, has proposed an allowance hike of 30-35 per cent. The commission report, which was submitted to Speaker AN Shamseer last week, has been handed over to the state Chief Minister. It is learnt that the next cabinet meeting may consider the report.
It is learnt that the commission has proposed a hike in allowances, without increasing the basic salary of the ministers and MLAs. There may be a hike in tour fares, phone and medical allowances.
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At present, ministers, Opposition Leader and the chief whip receive a total of Rs 96,000 as salary and allowance. It is learnt that the commission has proposed to increase this amount to Rs 1.2 lakh, while raising that of MLAs from Rs 70,000 to above Rs 1 lakh.
An increase of up to 35 per cent has been recommended for the benefit of the legislators which includes travel allowance and daily allowance.
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