LUCKNOW: In a controversial move, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav placed a proposal in the state assembly which allows MLAs to use up to Rs 20 lakh allotted under local area development (LAD) fund for buying four wheelers, which MLAs, however, will have to return to the government after their term is over. The LAD is given to MLAs for the development of their constituencies. The move has been opposed by most parties in the opposition.

The proposal will cost state exchequer Rs 80.60 crore, if all the 403 MLAs in the state assembly decide to buy four wheelers costing Rs 20 lakh. At present, the MLA LAD fund is Rs 1.25 crore, which has also been increased to Rs 1.50 crore.

Yadav justified his move by saying that there are many MLAs who cannot afford a car but they have to move around in their constituencies to meet people and solve their problems. A vehicle, he said, will provide mobility to the MLAs and enable them to work effectively. After his/her five-year term, the MLA will have the option to return the vehicle to the government or buy it on depreciated value. While addressing the assembly, Yadav also added that the elected members should buy a car for monitoring development work.

The Congress, the BJP and the BSP have opposed the move and have announced that they their MLAs will not buy vehicles from MLA fund. However, the proposal was supported by the RLD.

BJP state president Laxmi Kant Bajpai said that instead of making provision in MLA fund for buying cars , the government should provide interest free loan to MLAs for vehicles. The loan, he said, should be repaid within five years term.

Some of the MLAs, including those of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) were of the view that MLA LAD should be scrapped because incidents of misuse of the fund are greater, in comparison to, using it for development work. As per law, LAD can be used only for development and not for personal benefits.