Many CPM MPs have urged the party leadership to issue a public statement that the recent four-fold hike in salaries of parliamentarians does not mean much for them ? at the individual level ? because over three-fourths of their monthly pay directly goes to the party.
The request was made at a recent meeting of CPM MPs presided by senior leader Sitaram Yechury, when they met to decide on how much should MPs contribute to the party from their salaries. The call for a public statement, those present at the meeting said, was necessitated to ward off innumerable requests for donations they face on a daily basis ? from chanda for Puja to buying rail tickets or medicine for those in need.
MPs and MLAs belonging to Left parties, as a principle laid down by the party, contribute a major chunk of their salaries to the party. Most of the MPs at last week?s meeting were unanimous that the recent pay hike had given a ?wrong impression? that they were now getting much more as salary.
The new structure for MPs includes a basic salary of Rs 80,000, a daily allowance at the rate of Rs 2,000 per day as well as perks. This ensures that their ?take home? is over Rs 1 lakh a month. Left MPs say they are allowed to retain only between Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000.
At the meeting, Yechury was reportedly against sending out such a public message but he gave in. Yechury, who was in Hyderabad on Tuesday, declined to comment when contacted. The meeting decided that Rajya Sabha MPs (14 of them) would forgo their full salary of Rs 80000 while the 32 Lok Sabha MPs could retain only Rs 5000 each every month. Also, the 46 CPM MPs would donate Rs 4 lakh each to the party of the Rs 5 lakh plus they got as arrears.
It was also decided that state units should decide on the share of the daily allowance of Rs 2000 that should go to the party ? if at all.
Former MPs, except those who have had over four terms, will have to shell out their full salaries to the party which would then decide how much they should be given. Those with four terms or more, would have to give Rs 15,000 every month to the party.