Lok Sabha won't go; members benefit

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will not dissolve the Lok Sabha after its tenure comes to an end next week.

This will mean its 506 current members will draw their salaries and enjoy the amenities they are entitled to as MPs till the results of the next general elections are notified. It means they will effectively be paid for electioneering, as they will do little or no legislative work in the interim.

“In 2004, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government dissolved the House as it wanted early elections. These were due between August and September 2004, but were held in April-May. But there is no such compulsion now. Why should the Lok Sabha be dissolved?” Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh told Business Standard.

Added Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi: “There is no need to dissolve the Lok Sabha immediately.”

Currently, there are just 506 members, including the Speaker. As many as 39 seats are vacant, due to expulsions and other reasons.

Government sources noted that as the current Lok Sabha continues, standing committees will also be able to continue working on their reports and send these directly to the Speaker, though there are doubts on the time that members will be able to devote to committee work, mired as they will be in preparing for the next election.

Apart from a monthly salary of Rs 16,000, Lok Sabha members get amenities such as allowances, travel and medical facilities, accommodation and telephones. MPs’ salaries were revised from Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 in September 2006. They are entitled to a daily allowance of Rs 1,000 for attending a Committee sitting. They also get a constituency allowance and office expenses’ allowance amounting to Rs 20,000 a month, and travel concessions.

Each member is also entitled to accommodation in Delhi through the term of office. And free supply of water up to 4,000 kl a year and electricity up to 50,000 units (25,000 units measure on the light meter and 25,000 units on a power meter or pooled) a year at this residence.

After the NDA government dissolved the House, it had issued a special order to allow MPs to continue in their homes till the new members came in.

An MP is also entitled to 50,000 local calls from his telephone during a year. All calls made by chairmen of parliamentary committees from the telephone installed at their residences in Delhi are free.