The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 29 October 2026, unanimously passed a Bill revising the salaries and allowances of ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), marking the first such revision since 2018. In a notable dissent, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nemom MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar rejected the hike outright and pledged to direct his entire salary and allowances toward the poor in his constituency.

What the Pay Revision Entails

Under the revised Bill, the total monthly remuneration of MLAs will rise from ₹70,000 to ₹98,000 — an increase of approximately 40%. Ministers will see their monthly salary climb from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.33 lakh. The minimum monthly pension for former MLAs has also been raised from ₹8,000 to ₹10,000.

Among the specific allowance revisions, the constituency allowance has been increased from ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 per month, and the travel allowance from ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per month. The annual air travel allowance has been raised from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000. Former MLAs will additionally receive enhanced monthly pension benefits upon attaining the ages of 70 and 80 under the revised provisions.

Why the Revision Was Deferred — and Then Passed Unanimously

The salary and allowance revision is the first since 2018. The government had deferred a proposed revision in 2022, citing the state's precarious financial condition at the time. Despite that deferral, members from both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition pressed steadily for an upward revision, and the Bill was ultimately passed without any dissent in the House.

Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan noted that several members had shared their difficulties in meeting rising day-to-day expenses. He congratulated the House on passing the Bill without disagreement and requested that each MLA be provided with an additional personal assistant. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan responded that the proposal could be considered favourably. The Assembly was adjourned sine die shortly after the Bill was passed.

Chandrasekhar's Stand Against the Hike

BJP Nemom MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in a statement to the press, said he would not accept the increased salary and allowances, citing the state's poor financial condition. He said he would channel all his MLA remuneration toward the benefit of poor people in Nemom.

Chandrasekhar questioned how the government could justify raising remuneration for ministers and legislators when ASHA workers and Public Service Commission (PSC) job aspirants were yet to receive their due. He also alleged that there was no meaningful policy difference between the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government and the current administration under Chief Minister Satheesan on issues that affect ordinary citizens.

Broader Context and Political Implications

The unanimous passage of the Bill — with ruling and Opposition members voting together — underscores a recurring pattern in Indian state legislatures where cross-party consensus on legislator pay often emerges more readily than on public welfare measures. This is the second time since 2018 that Kerala's elected representatives have revised their own pay; critics, including Chandrasekhar, argue the timing raises questions about the state's stated fiscal constraints. Kerala has frequently cited revenue shortfalls in recent years to defer welfare payments and infrastructure commitments, making the cross-party unanimity on this Bill politically significant.

How the government responds to renewed pressure from ASHA workers and PSC aspirants in the wake of this revision will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.