In a dramatic political reversal, the Odisha Legislative Assembly is witnessing a rare consensus demanding a complete rollback of a massive 200% salary hike for its members, a move passed with overwhelming support barely ten days ago. The proposed increase, which would have made Odisha's MLAs the highest-paid lawmakers in the country, has met with fierce public criticism, forcing legislators from both the ruling BJP and opposition BJD to reconsider their stance.
From Unanimous Approval to Unified Opposition
The journey of the controversial pay hike bills has been swift and surprising. On December 9, the state assembly almost unanimously passed four bills proposing to triple the salaries of sitting MLAs and the pensions of former legislators. At the time, only CPM legislator Laxman Munda stood in opposition. However, the decision immediately sparked a wave of disapproval from the public and civil society, questioning the necessity of such a steep increase during times of economic constraint for many citizens.
The pressure began to mount when BJP MLAs, part of the ruling coalition, were the first to urge the government to withdraw the hike. This was followed on Friday by a significant move from the principal opposition party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In a news conference at the party headquarters, 'Shankha Bhavan', BJD MLAs Pramila Mallik and Pratap Keshari Deb publicly requested Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the bills.
Parties Cite Public Sentiment for U-Turn
The BJD's rethink is particularly notable as the party, along with Congress, had supported the bills during their passage. Addressing the media, Pramila Mallik stated that their changed stand directly reflects the strong public disapproval that has surfaced. She revealed that BJD president and Leader of Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, had already announced he would not accept the enhanced salary. Patnaik had also written to CM Majhi, asking that the hiked amount due to him as LoP be diverted to welfare programmes for the poor.
"Respecting public sentiment, we have urged the chief minister to roll back the hike," Mallik affirmed. Echoing this sentiment, BJD's deputy chief whip, Pratap Keshari Deb, emphasized that as people's representatives, legislators must honour the reaction on the ground.
The Congress party, which also supported the bills initially, joined the call for a rollback. Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam criticized the government for hurrying the bills through without proper deliberation. "The govt had hurriedly introduced and passed the bills without proper deliberations. Now it is forced to act because people are reacting. It should not have brought the bills in the first place. We support the rollback," Kadam said.
Political Blame Game and the Path Ahead
As the demand for a rollback gains momentum, a political blame game has ensued. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das claimed that such a steep hike was unnecessary as no legislator had demanded it. He accused the BJP of turning governance into a joke, stating, "They only hiked the salary and are now trying to fool people."
The situation presents a unique challenge for Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's government, which now faces pressure from its own MLAs and the opposition to retract a decision it recently championed. The episode highlights the power of public opinion in shaping policy, even on matters directly concerning the lawmakers themselves. The government's next step—whether it will formally withdraw the bills or amend them—is now keenly awaited, setting a precedent for how elected representatives respond to popular dissent on issues of self-benefit.
