SHILLONG: Meghalaya cabinet has taken a decision to cut down the salaries of MLAs in the state by Rs 8000 per month.
Parliamentary Affairs minister, MM Danggo said that though the salary of MLAs were increased to Rupees two lakh ten thousand during the last budget session this year, the same was reduced after necessary examination by the concerned department.
With this cut, the total emoluments of the MLAs per month will be Rupees two lakh two thousand.
Later, Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma said that the Government would be forced to increase the salary of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and all the ministers, if the monthly salary of MLAs was not reduced.
On being asked if the decision is an election gimmick, Sangma said that irrespective of timings, Government had to do what it considered good. “It is wrong to allege everything as election gimmick,” Sangma said.