Buy car from development funds: Akhilesh to MLAs

The opposition has reacted negatively to a proposal put forth by the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to allow MLAs to buy a car worth Rs 20 lakhs from the development funds allotted to each MLA.

The Bahujan Samaj Party's senior leader Swami Prasad Maurya said that the decision was 'wasteful' and could not be justified.

It might be recalled that upon coming to power Yadav had said that the government had inherited empty coffers from the previous BSP regime.

Reacting to the proposal, former UP chief minister Rajnath Singh said, "This is setting a wrong precedent. Not only is it disrespectful of democracy and the aspirations of people, it is also against law."

In a written statement, Singh said, "The state is reeling under huge debt. There is no money for developmental works. The SP has forgotten its priorities after winning the election."

Every year an MLA gets Rs 1.50 crore for developmental work in his/her constituency. The proposal envisages using Rs 20 lakh for the car just one during the five year tenure. Since UP has 403 MLAs the total expenditure on the cars would be Rs 80.6 crore.

Yadav justified his proposal in the House by saying that MLAs do not have vehicles to move around in their constituency and monitor developmental works. At the end of their tenure they would have the option to return it to the government or buy it at depreciated value.

The proposal has found support with the RLD which was an ally of the Congress in the Vidhan Sabha polls. The Congress has opposed the move.

Congress spokesperson Veerendra Madan said, "It is difficult to understand what prompted the move. It is a blatant misuse of the taxpayer's money."

From within his party too Yadav came in for muted criticism. Ravidas Mehrotra from the SP said, "The money from the development fund should be used only for development works. The common man has too many problems to contend with."

This is not the first controversial decision taken by Yadav. Last month's controversial decision to force malls and restaurants to shut down at 7pm to save electricity drew flak from the opposition and was withdrawn barely 24 hours later.