Bhubaneswar: The Secretariat of the Odisha Legislative Assembly has issued an official notice regarding the withdrawal of four key amendment bills related to the salaries and allowances of the Lawmakers of the State.
The notice, issued on March 26, 2026, by Secretary, OLA, Shri Satyabrata Rout, informs all members of the assembly that Dr. Mukesh Mahaling has expressed his intention to move for leave to withdraw the proposed legislation.
The four bills slated for withdrawal were originally introduced in 2025. These include the Odisha Legislative Assembly Members’ Salary, Allowances and Pension (Amendment) Bill, the Speaker’s Salary and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, and the Deputy Speaker’s Salary and Allowances (Amendment) Bill. Additionally, the Odisha Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill is also included in the withdrawal request.
The decision by the Odisha Government to withdraw the proposed bills for salary and allowance hikes for its legislators marks a significant moment in the state’s recent political history.
This move, initiated by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling on March 26, 2026, once approved in House will effectively halts a series of legislative amendments that would have seen a dramatic increase in the monthly compensation for MLAs and other high-ranking officials.
The proposed changes were substantial. Under the 2025 amendment bills, the monthly package for an MLA was set to triple, rising from approximately 1.11 lakh to 3.45 lakh.
Similar increases were outlined for the Chief Minister, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and various ministers, making Odisha’s lawmakers among the highest-paid in the country.
The package included a base salary of 90,000 alongside a range of allowances for secretarial work, conveyance, electricity, and medical expenses.
The sudden reversal of these bills is largely a response to intense public scrutiny and political pressure. After the bills were initially passed in December 2025, a wave of public resentment emerged.
Critics pointed to the stark contrast between the proposed three-fold salary hike for elected representatives and the economic hardships faced by many citizens, including low-wage workers and those affected by natural disasters.
A key turning point in the narrative was the moral stance taken by former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, who formally requested to forgo the increased salary, suggesting the funds be used for the welfare of the poor.
This gesture, combined with internal deliberations within the ruling BJP, led to a consensus that the timing and scale of the hike were out of sync with public sentiment.
By moving to withdraw the bills, the State Government has chosen to prioritize fiscal sensitivity and public perception over the long-standing demands of legislators for a pay revision.