While addressing the meeting of Jana Sena Party’s newly-elected MLAs soon after the recent assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, party president and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan declared that he would take his monthly salary as a cabinet minister.
“I have decided to take my salary as an elected representative and the cabinet minister, because it will give me some sense of responsibility and accountability. Whenever I spend the money I get as a salary, it will remind me that I am taking the tax-payers’ money and hence, I should do justice for them,” Pawan Kalyan said then.
But four days ago, while addressing a meeting at his constituency Pithapuram, the Jana Sena Party chief suddenly changed his tune.
He said he had declined to accept his salary and any special allowances, including new furniture for his office.
“The officials from the Secretariat came to me to get my signature on documents related to my salary of Rs 35,000 for attending the House for three days. However, I told them that I would not take the salary,” he said.
What is the reason? He said he did not want to spend public money for himself, considering the precarious financial condition of the state.
“When I was reviewing the status of the panchayat raj and rural development department, I was shocked that there were no funds even for payment of salaries to the staff,” he said.
Stating that the entire department money was siphoned off by the previous government, Pawan Kalyan said it was not correct on his part to take salary at a time when his department was facing the financial crunch.
The deputy chief minister further said officials at his camp office recently asked him about its renovation and purchase of furniture, but he rejected those privileges.
“They (officials) asked what to do about the camp office (renovation) and repairs. I told them not to do anything and leave it alone. I told them not to buy any new furniture and I will bring it on my own if it is needed,” he said.
This is rather surprising and only shows Pawan Kalyan is trying to play to the gallery. Everybody knows from the Day One itself that the exchequer is empty; so, Pawan also might be aware of the situation. In fact, he made a mention of bankrupt state during his electioneering itself.
Secondly, it is too silly to think that just because Pawan Kalyan doesn’t take his salary, the financial position of his department would improve.
He has forgotten the fact that there is a separate head of account for payment of salaries and perks to the cabinet ministers and MLAs.
It is a different matter that Pawan Kalyan did not want to take salary it is just peanuts for him. But there is no need to change his tune in a span of days.
