Chennai: Leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced in the assembly on Friday that all 59 DMK MLAs would not avail the cars to be provided by the state govt.He said the decision was taken on the direction of DMK president M K Stalin, considering the state’s financial condition. CPI floor leader T Ramachandran also announced the party MLAs would forgo the govt cars. Later, PMK leader Sowmiya Anbumani too said two of their MLAs would turn down the cars. “The fund can be used to build paddy procurement centres,” she said.The move was in response to TVK govt’s announcement that all MLAs would be provided official cars along with a monthly allowance of ₹75,000 for fuel and maintenance. In addition, MLAs would be given ₹25,000 for an assistant.“Chief minister C Joseph Vijay himself has repeatedly said that the state govt is under heavy debt and claimed that the previous govt wiped off the state exchequer. Considering this, our 59 members have decided not to accept govt vehicles,” said leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin. He said the vehicle facility should be restricted to economically weaker MLAs, based on their election affidavits.Public works minister Aadhav Arjuna hit back, saying the scheme was aimed at ensuring equality among legislators and was not a luxury. “Many newly elected MLAs come from humble backgrounds. There is an MLA from VCK who travels by public bus. This initiative ensures equality,” Arjuna said, recalling VCK’s Kattumannarkoil MLA L E Jothimani’s request for a car from the state govt.Rejecting DMK’s argument that MLAs who own a car do not require official cars, Arjuna said Udhayanidhi “owns multiple bungalows but resides in an official govt residence”.The remark triggered strong protests from DMK members, with senior leader K N Nehru coming to Udhayanidhi’s defence. Nehru said leader of the opposition, being accorded cabinet rank, was entitled to official accommodation under protocol.Nehru told Arjuna that even if the minister was residing in his own house, the govt was providing rent allowance. “Let him forgo that allowance,” Nehru said.
