Kolkata
The special one-day session of the West Bengal Assembly was adjourned within 15 minutes of its commencement without any discussion on two Bills related to the enhancement of salaries for state ministers and legislators. The Speaker, Biman Bandopadhyay, attributed the adjournment to the recent death of a former MLA. However, the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, claimed that the real reason behind the adjournment was the absence of Governor C.V. Ananda Bose’s assent for the special session. During the session, the state Parliamentary affairs Minister, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, presented the Bill for enhanced ministerial salaries, and the state minister in charge of finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, presented the Bill for enhanced MLA salaries. The Speaker, after these Bills were tabled, stated that no discussion could occur on them, as the session would be adjourned after obituary mentions. On September 7, 2023, the chief minister had announced a significant increase in the salaries of cabinet ministers, ministers of state, and legislators, raising their monthly salaries by Rs 40,000 each. This announcement generated significant public attention and opposition, particularly from state government employees who have long demanded enhanced Dearness Allowances to match those of Central government employees and receive accrued arrears. The BJP has also expressed opposition to the proposal to increase the salaries of ministers and MLAs.
