Chennai: A car, fuel allowance, secretary. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has announced a big bonanza for Tamil Nadu MLAs. All the state’s 234 MLAs will get a car and an allowance for fuel and maintenance expenses.
The chief minister has announced that the MLAs will get a government vehicle to help them with their constituency related works.
“MLAs need to travel to their constituencies frequently to address people’s problems. Government vehicle will ensure transparent and corruption free governance,” the chief minister announced in the Assembly, justifying the expense.
The Tamil Nadu government added that there are number of MLAs in the current Assembly who have been elected for the first time and come from humble backgrounds. They need a car to discharge their duties as people’s representative, Vijay added.
The announcement came after VCK MLA Jothimani said MLAs cannot work effectively without the required logistics support and requested cars for them.
The Vijay government has also announced an allowance of Rs 75,000 per month for the MLAs for expenses on driver, fuel and maintenance of cars.
Justifying the decision VIjay said: “All MLAs are required to travel in their constituencies to listen to people’s grievances and to monitor government projects. To help members without financial backing and first-timers discharge their responsibilities tirelessly, I am happy to announce government vehicles for all MLAs.”
Additionally, MLAs will now also get a state grant of Rs 25,000 to hire a secretary for official work.
The Chief Minister’s announcement was quickly welcomed by the legislators.
TVK MLA Sabari Iyngaran, welcoming the government move to give cars to MLAs, narrated her own story. “I neither had a car nor a job. But our leader has now given us jobs and cars. I come to Chennai by train only, and when I come by auto to the Assembly, the police don’t even believe me when I say I am an MLA. I have to show my identity card.”
TVK MLA Sindhu broke into an an MGR song, ‘Kodutthathellam Kodutthan’, in the Assembly to thank the chief minister, who was seen smiling while other MLAs thumped their tables in approval.
TVK MLA expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay by singing a song after the announcement that cars would be provided to all Members of the Legislative Assembly pic.twitter.com/HHwxsYodID
— Vignesh Theni (@Vignesh_twitz) August 19, 2026
TVK ally Congress MLA Tharagai Cuthbert welcomed the announcement, saying it had made the MLAs “so happy”. She added that even opposition MLAs would welcome the decision, though, understandably, they might not say so.
School Education Minister Raj Mohan also backed the move, pointing to its wider benefits. Apart from helping MLAs perform their duties, he said, the decision would create employment opportunities for drivers and secretaries.
The opposition DMK has, however, slammed the Vijay’s government’s announcement calling it unwanted expense. “This decision will need a lot of money. Car for all 234 MLAs will cost a lot to the state and then there are additional allowances announced. What was the need?” DMK spokesperson A Sarvanan told NDTV.
