Chennai: Tamil Nadu govt is likely to provide cars to all MLAs, irrespective of party affiliation, sources told TOI. Legislators will also receive monthly allowances for fuel and drivers.The proposal follows a request made in the assembly by Kattumannarkoil VCK MLA L E Jothimani. “Several MLAs, particularly first-time legislators, travel by bus or hire private taxis. The chief minister may announce the provision of vehicles during the upcoming assembly session. Fuel and driver allowances will also be included,” a senior govt official said. The vehicles are likely to be procured through the Govt e-Marketplace (GeM), Union govt’s digital platform for public procurement by ministries, govt departments, public sector undertakings and local bodies. Around 146 members of the 234-member assembly are first-time legislators, many of them from the TVK.Most newly elected MLAs struggled to meet constituents and government officials because they lacked official vehicles and had to spend a substantial portion of their salaries on transport. “A vehicle would help us serve the public more quickly and efficiently,” he told TOI. Jothimani is the son of former TNCC president and prominent dalit leader L Elayaperumal. On Saturday, Jothimani visited a village in neighbouring Ariyalur district to help resolve differences between caste groups over the conduct of a temple festival.Recalling that successive govts had ignored similar requests citing financial constraints, a senior DMK MLA said local-body heads were already being provided official vehicles. “The govt provides vehicles to municipal and union chairpersons, mayors and deputy mayors, but MLAs do not enjoy the same facility. This limits their mobility, including on important occasions,” the MLA said. Legislators were visibly pleased when the chief minister spoke to senior colleague N Anand immediately after Jothimani raised the demand in the House.Former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami increased the monthly salary and allowances of MLAs from Rs 55,000 to Rs 1.05 lakh in 2017. MLAs are also entitled to a daily allowance of Rs 500 for attending assembly and committee meetings, free travel on govt buses, an annual railway allowance of Rs 20,000 and accommodation at the MLA hostel.
