MLA seeks salary hike, preferential darshan of Tirupati deity

Raises requests during debate on grants

AIADMK MLA B. Sathyanarayanan on Wednesday made a special request to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the Legislative Assembly, for not only a hike in the salary of MLAs, but also preference for them in getting a special darshan of Lord Balaji in the Tirupati temple.

The MLA for Thiyagaraya Nagar, speaking during the debate on the demand for grants for the Municipal Administration and Water Supply and the Rural Development departments, reserved his requests at the end of his speech.

Cites pay in other States

“I am requesting this on behalf of all MLAs here. We are under compulsion to make this request for an increase in the MLAs’ salary,” Mr. Sathyanarayanan said, referring to the ‘lucrative’ salary of legislators in neighbouring States like Andhra Pradesh.

Special darshan

As his plea evoked smiles from fellow legislators, he moved on to his next request, saying, “Also, I request the Chief Minister to arrange for MLAs to figure in List-I for a special darshan in the Tirupati temple. I request our Chief Minister to write to his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh in this regard.”

His remarks caught the attention of fellow legislators, especially the women MLAs seated behind him, who greeted him and eagerly borrowed copies of his speech.

For the next few minutes, legislators seated in different corners of the House gestured to him in approval.