Bhubaneswar: The BJD MLAs on Friday moved Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging him to review the four bills passed by the Odisha Assembly on December 9, increasing salaries and allowances of legislators, speaker, deputy speaker, chief minister, deputy chief ministers and ministers.
The substantial hike in MLAs’ salaries had sparked strong backlash from the public and civil society groups.
Speaking to the media, Opposition whip Pramila Mallik said that though the bills were passed unanimously, the BJD legislators have decided to respect the public opinion. “My leader Naveen Patnaik has always respected public opinion, which is why he offered to forgo the hike. He has never taken a salary since entering politics. Now, the BJD MLAs have requested the CM to reconsider the bills,” she said.
ଜନମତକୁ ସମ୍ମାନ ଜଣାଇ ବିଧାୟକଙ୍କ ବର୍ଦ୍ଧିତ ଦରମାର ପୁନଃବିଚାର କରାଯାଉ।
ସଭାପତି ଶ୍ରୀ ନବୀନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ (@Naveen_Odisha) ଙ୍କ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ୍ରମେ ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର ବିଧାୟକମାନେ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ନିଜ ଦାବି ଉପସ୍ଥାପନ କରିଛନ୍ତି।#BJD4Odisha#BJDWithOdisha pic.twitter.com/SUK7NMgDyP
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) December 19, 2025
This came a day after BJP legislators made a similar appeal to the CM, acknowledging the need to respect popular sentiment.
The issue of lawmakers’ salary hike and widespread criticism from people were discussed in BJP Legislature party meeting attended by CM Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Ministers, MLAs and senior party office bearers, including state party president Manmohan Samal, and General Secretary (Organisation) Manas Kumar Mahanty, in party’s state headquarters here.
The revision of MLAs’ salaries, with a proposed hike of over 200% that would place Odisha’s legislators ahead of their counterparts in all other states, appears to have dented the image of the 18-month-old Mohan Majhi government, and reportedly also did not go down well with the BJP’s central leadership.
It is yet to gain the assent of the Governor.
The Three-Fold Hike
The Odisha Assembly passed four key amendment bills that increased the monthly package of MLAs from around Rs 1.11 lakh to Rs 3.45 lakh. Similarly, the Chief Minister will draw Rs 3.74 lakh a month, the Deputy CM Rs 3.68 lakh, Cabinet Ministers Rs 3.62 lakh and Ministers of State Rs 3.56 lakh under the revised structure. The Speaker’s salary and allowances have also been hiked to Rs 3.68 lakh. The Deputy Speaker will receive Rs 3.56 lakh while the Leader of the Opposition and Government Chief Whip will draw a monthly salary of Rs 3.62 lakh each.
The government had earlier said that the hike, after an eight-year gap, factored in inflation.
Naveen Declines Hiked Salary
On December 13, BJD president and former CM Naveen Patnaik declared that he will relinquish the enhanced salary and allowances, compounding the government’s discomfort amid the massive public resentment.
“I would like to forego the salary and allowances increased for the Leader of Opposition, which the Odisha assembly recently passed,” Naveen wrote in a letter to the CM, requesting him to utilise the same “for the welfare of the poor people of our state.”
Summon From Central Leadership
A day later, Majhi was summoned to New Delhi and BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong displeasure over the substantial hike during the meeting. The move, sources said, was seen as sending an inappropriate signal to the public, as well as to legislators in other states and MPs, who receive considerably lower remuneration and allowances.
Santhosh is understood to have emphasised that a decision of such magnitude, taken by the state government without prior consultation with the party’s central leadership, had not been well received at the national level.
Following the advice, a resolution was passed by the legislature party to send a signal to the Opposition members that such a step had become imperative for honouring public sentiments.
