JUST SPAMMING|Why the Hullabaloo Over Cars for MLAs

Interestingly, the State Assembly spent hours the other day in discussing the State government’s latest move to provide cars to the legislators. The entire hullabaloo was a waste of time as many other issues could have been debated in those hours. But what was it that made the opposition take such a belligerent stand against yet another perquisite offered to elected representatives is a big question. Why should an additional facility that would facilitate the MLAs move freely in their constituencies agitate so many people, including many MLAs themselves, is the question that is in the minds of many. In fact, it was due to a plethora of reasons with hypocrisy underlying the entire narrative.

For one, the jaded public discourse is that austerity is a virtue that politicians should adapt to. So even if extraordinarily wealthy persons enter the Assembly, they are expected to show restraint in exhibiting their privileges. Even then a car in the present day context is not a big deal for many middle class families. In the world of politics it is not seen as luxury at all. Yet, the announcement made by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on his government decision to provide vehicles to MLAs opened a Pandora’s Box. The politically righteous Youtubers went to town, questioning the decision to splurge money on MLAs, which in these days of social media is a regular thing.

The reason suggested by Vijay for his government’s munificence was to prevent corruption, an issue that the TVK has taken up as part of the ‘change’ in governance that it has promised to assure in. While it is not known if the government will be successful in eliminating corruption completely, providing cars to MLAs can have a positive effect in curbing MLAs from indulging in graft. Because among the middle class aspirations in society, having vehicles is one. Most youth would like to flaunt a two-wheeler as soon as they land a job after college – it is a different matter that many youth do not go to college if their parents do not buy them a motorbike – in a normal middle class home.

Since some of the newly elected MLAs might not own a car, providing them with one as a perk of the new job is perfectly normal. Many jobs in the private sector come with a vehicle if it involves local travel. Even in the government, bureaucrats and ministers are entitled for a vehicle. So what is so out of place in the announcement that the Assembly should see such a ruckus and the social media should be full of acrimonious comments against it. The reason cited by those who vehemently oppose it is that it is a drain on the public exchequer, forgetting that democracy itself is an expensive exercise.

When Prime Ministers can travel in private jets with needless entourages and Ministers can avail of so many privileges, including bungalows, cars and personal staff, why an additional benefit to MLAs should earn the wrath of so many people is intriguing. Of course many demands in the past for such a privilege were denied to MLAs but that does not mean that they should be denied the privilege forever. Some may argue that when Members of Parliament do not have free personal official cars, why MLAs should be given the privilege. But the counter for that from the advocates of the free car privilege could be that such hierarchies are irrelevant because local body chiefs in the State are going around in official vehicles.

The point is that it is for the people to decide on such privileges for their representatives. And such decisions could be taken by elected representatives in their forums and by their governments. So Vijay’s decision to give official vehicles to MLAs is well within democratic norms. If there is a moral question on accepting privileges drawn from people’s money then it is for those who feel guilty to address it. Because at a time when people’s money is spent left, right and centre for innumerable things by the government on providing comforts for bureaucrats, police officers, ministers and diplomats, why should we fuss over MLAs getting a car for use during their tenure. All those MLAs who consider it as ultra vires – because it is the Assembly in which they are members that have to give the final nod for the scheme – could well opt out of the scheme, saving money for the exchequer. Some parties have already announced such a decision like the DMK and Communists.

But the main bone of contention on the issue is that the MLA who raised the demand for cars owns cars and that many who are waiting for the launch of the scheme have even fleets of luxury cars. This is a valid point for the naysayers. MLAs owning cars should not be aspiring for a free official vehicle. Because the scheme was aimed at providing mobility to members who depend on public transport within their constituencies, where they may have to meet many people for various reasons. Voters of the constituency may not have any problem in seeing their MLA moving around in a car. In fact, way back in 1967 the people of Orathanadu constituency gifted an Ambassador car – that was the model used by Ministers, too – to their newly elected MLA L Ganesan of the DMK for his personal use.