Recently, Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, increased the area development fund for MLAs and MLCs to Rs. 1.5 crores from Rs. 1.25 crores. From the increased allocation, he allowed MLAs to spend up to Rs. 20 lacs on cars. The move has been strongly criticised by the media, which forced Akhilesh withdrawing the decision. He said, “I take back the whole decision. The reason behind this is that most of the MLAs have decided not to take the offer after the media hype.”
The logic provided by Yadav in support of his decision stood that it is must for a MLA to own a car, ensuring convenient mobility during a visit in their respective constituency. It would have helped them further to perform their job in a better manner. According to him, Electorate has to make sure that the individual appointed by them has basic amenities to perform their jobs effectively.
However, what confounds an individual is that where the need for a car worth Rs. 20 lacs lies when there are other impressive options available in the market in a range of Rs. 4 to Rs. 6 lacs. Even Tata Nano is a perfect car for commuting, since it offers an exceptional mileage of 25.4 kmpl which makes the car economical in both – initial investment and long run.
The answer to the question remains in the fact that for a MLA, a car is not just a mode of transportation but rather a symbol of power and position. A car highlights the actuality that the person travelling in the vehicle has a high status. This factor is quite crucial for MLAs to project amidst the residents of their constituency. In a general sense, whenever MLAs visit their respective areas the car should send a vibe that the MLA of area is on patrol. However, this is not possible with a Tata Nano bearing a red-light on its top.
A Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) is perfect for this job as it carries an aura of power and significance, owing to its rugged as well as bulky frame. And, SUVs like Audi Q3, Honda CR-V and BMW X1, don’t come cheap, rather these cost around Rs. 20 lacs. Going by this logic of owning a powerful mode of transportation that is awe-inspiring, will Akhilesh allocate funds for buying a helicopter?? A politician arriving in his constituency in a chopper creates a buzz that no other mode of transportation can match. This would however not happen in the near future, considering all the negative publicity his ‘Rs. 20 lacs car scheme’ has garnered.
