Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Odisha’s Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Saturday turned down the recent threefold salary hike for legislators, urging authorities to redirect the funds towards uplifting Odisha’s underprivileged masses.
This act, announced just days after the Odisha Assembly’s decision, reaffirms Naveen’s long-time tradition of compassionate governance.
The Assembly, on December 9, greenlit a bill that catapulted monthly emoluments — from a modest ₹1 lakh to a substantial ₹3.45 lakh — sparking widespread discussions on public servant remuneration. Undeterred by the windfall, the five-time former Chief Minister penned a letter to Assembly Speaker and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, explicitly waiving his enhanced allowances. “I wish to forego the increased salary and perks as Leader of the Opposition,” Naveen wrote, imploring, “Kindly use this amount for the welfare of our state’s poor citizens.”
Naveen’s gesture is no isolated benevolence. Having helmed Odisha for 24 years, he had gifted his ancestral Cuttack residence, Anand Bhavan, to the public in 2015.
In his missive, he reflected on a quarter-century of unwavering public affection: “I remain indebted to Odisha’s people, whose boundless love and faith have graced both me and my late father, Biju Patnaik.”
Chief Minister Majhi lauded the move as “yet another benchmark in leadership,” extending a resounding salute. “Naveen Patnaik has set a shining example for the nation,” Majhi remarked, underscoring the gesture’s ripple effect on ethical politics.