Tamil Nadu Govt Plans to Provide Cars, Fuel and Driver Allowances to All MLAs

The Tamil Nadu government is planning to provide cars, along with monthly allowances for fuel and drivers, to all Members of the Legislative Assembly across party lines, according to senior government officials in Chennai.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is expected to formally announce the vehicle provision scheme during the upcoming assembly session. The move follows a request raised on the floor of the House by Kattumannarkoil VCK MLA L.E. Jothimani, who highlighted the transportation challenges faced by lawmakers.

Under the proposed initiative, vehicles are likely to be procured through the Union government's digital public procurement platform, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), which facilitates purchases for ministries, departments, public sector undertakings, and local bodies.

A significant factor driving the decision is that around 146 members of the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly are first-time legislators. Many of these newly elected representatives do not possess personal official vehicles and rely on public buses or private hired taxis to travel.

According to Jothimani, several legislators have struggled to regularly meet constituents and government officials in their respective constituencies because they lack designated official transport, often spending a substantial portion of their monthly salaries on travel expenses. Providing dedicated vehicles and maintenance allowances is intended to help MLAs carry out their public duties more swiftly and efficiently.