In a significant development reflecting sensitivity to public opinion, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators in Odisha have formally requested Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to reconsider the recent increase in salaries and allowances for MLAs and former legislators.
A crucial meeting of the BJP legislative party was held today at the party’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar. Health and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling announced that the MLAs, respecting public sentiment, have submitted a written proposal to the Chief Minister urging a review of the salary and allowance hike.
The salary revision was approved during the recently concluded 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly session on December 9, 2025, through a bill that tripled MLAs’ monthly remuneration from approximately ₹1.11 lakh to ₹3.45 lakh, making Odisha lawmakers among the highest-paid in the country.
The meeting was attended by key leaders, including State President Manmohan Samal, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, General Secretary (Organisation) Manas Kumar Mohanty, as well as all cabinet ministers and MLAs.
This move comes amid widespread discussions on social media and in public forums about the timing and scale of the hike, especially in light of economic challenges faced by citizens.
The bills passed earlier are awaiting the Governor’s assent, and it remains to be seen how the Chief Minister will respond to the legislators’ proposal.
