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Bhubaneswar: In a notable policy change, the Odisha government on Thursday initiated formal proceedings in the Odisha Legislative Assembly to withdraw the controversial bill proposing increase in salaries and allowances of Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

This move follows the State government’s earlier decision not to implement the law even though it was passed by the Parliament. According to official sources, the process has now been initiated in accordance with established legal procedures. The Parliamentary Secretariat sent a formal notice to all members informing them of the intention to withdraw the measure.

The initiative came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling submitted a statement seeking withdrawal of the bill. Although no official detailed statement has yet been made, this development underlines a calibrated change in the government’s attitude.

Clarifying the procedural aspect, Ganeswar Behera, a legislator from Kendrapara, called the withdrawal a “legal requirement” rather than a substantive policy decision.

“When the government decided not to implement the bill, it could not remain in limbo. Since it is the property of the Parliament, withdrawal of the law requires the approval of the Parliament. This is essentially a procedural compliance,” he said.

Behera also said the reversal was inevitable given the government’s previous statement moving away from salary increases. “There is nothing new in this. It is an inevitable formality,” he added.

The bill, which was earlier approved in the Assembly, proposed a significant upward revision in the salaries and allowances of both current and former MLAs; This was one of the sharpest increases in recent years. Its withdrawal now signals the government’s intention to align legal outcomes with its stated policy position while adhering to constitutional and procedural norms.

This development assumes significance in the broader political context and reflects sensitivity to public perception of the remuneration of elected representatives, even as fiscal prudence and governance optics continue to shape policy decisions.