The Haryana government has amended its rules to increase the hotel accommodation allowance for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Under the revised norms, MLAs will now be eligible to stay in hotels costing up to ₹12,000 per night in metro cities and up to ₹9,000 per night in non-metro cities. The government has stated that the decision has been taken keeping in mind rising inflation and the status and dignity of elected representatives.
Haryana Raises Hotel Allowance for MLAs
Reacting sharply to the move, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda targeted the Haryana government with a sarcastic remark. Sharing a screenshot of a news report on social media platform X, Dhanda wrote, “Members of Luxury Assembly.” His comment has triggered political debate and criticism of the government’s priorities.
AAP Leader Anurag Dhanda Takes a Dig
Earlier, MLAs were entitled to a hotel allowance of ₹5,000 per night. With the latest revision, the amount has more than doubled, allowing legislators to stay in premium and luxury hotels during official visits. The opposition has questioned the timing of the decision, arguing that while the general public continues to struggle with rising prices, the government is focused on enhancing perks for elected representatives.
The Saini-led Haryana government, however, has defended the move, saying that hotel tariffs across cities have increased significantly and MLAs require decent accommodation while on official duty. According to the government, the revision was necessary to align allowances with current market rates.
An official notification regarding the amendment was issued on December 23. The notification states that the changes have been made by exercising powers under the Haryana Legislative Assembly (Members’ Salaries, Allowances and Pension) Act, 1975, further amending the Haryana Legislative Assembly Members’ Allowances Rules, 1976.
While the government maintains that the decision is practical and justified, opposition parties continue to criticise it, calling it a reflection of misplaced priorities at a time when public welfare and cost-of-living issues remain major concerns.
