Karnataka plans big pay hike for legislators amid cash crunch; CM Siddaramaiah's salary may double to Rs 1.5 lakh

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

The Congress government in Karnataka is reportedly considering a salary hike for state legislators. As per a draft copy of the Karnataka legislature salary proposal accessed by CNN-News18, MLAs' salaries may double from Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000, while chief minister Siddaramaiah's salary could increase to Rs 1,50,000 from Rs 75,000 earlier.

Home Minister G Parameshwara, reacting to the proposal, explained that the rising cost of living affects everyone. "A common man is suffering, and so are MLAs," he remarked in defense of the salary increase.

“So, recommendations have come from MLAs and others, and that is why the decision has been taken by the chief minister. Everybody has to survive and CM will manage to give this money from some account,” he stated.

The development comes at a time when the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has delivered another financial setback to the people of the state, who are already facing rising costs. Effective April 1, electricity tariffs in Karnataka will rise by 36 paise per unit, according to KERC’s latest order. The increase aims to fund pension and gratuity expenses for electricity transmission and ESCOM staff.