Akhilesh Yadav's drive to let taxpayers pay for MLAs' cars raises eyebrows

Lucknow: In a controversial move today, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has proposed that MLAs who do not have a car of their own should be allowed to buy a car using state funds, if they need one to survey work in their constituencies. He even stated that the car should not be more than Rs 20 lakh.

This announcement was made in the state assembly, but many MLAs say they don't need this option to buy a car.

Mr Yadav also proposed that car could be returned to the government after 5 years or be bought by the MLA at a depreciated value.

Some from, within Mr Yadav's party have rejected this option. K Ravi Das Mehrotra an MLA from the Samajwadi Party said he will not buy a car as it was public money, but would use the money for developing his area.

Every year an MLA's gets Rs 1.25 crore as 'development funds' for developing work in their constituencies.

After this decision, this fund has been been increased by Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore.

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