The Tamil Nadu government has officially established price ceilings for the procurement of vehicles for ministers, legislators, and key Assembly officials. These regulations, which amend the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Travelling Allowance Rules of 1955, were formally notified on October 1.
Under the new guidelines, the purchase limit for vehicles assigned to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Government Whip is set at ₹26 lakh. For all other Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), the ceiling is fixed at ₹15 lakh. These amounts are inclusive of the vehicle's ex-showroom price, registration fees, taxes, and motor insurance premiums. Furthermore, all procured vehicles must adhere to BS-VI emission standards and be purchased exclusively through the government’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
The policy outlines distinct arrangements for operational costs. The state government will cover maintenance, fuel, repair, and driver expenses for ministers, while the Assembly Secretariat will manage these costs for the four senior Assembly functionaries. Conversely, other MLAs are required to cover these operational expenses using their designated vehicle allowance. The rules also mandate that vehicles must be returned to the relevant authorities upon a legislator's departure from office, whether due to resignation, disqualification, death, or the completion of their term.
This initiative follows a request from VCK MLA LE Jothimani, who raised concerns regarding the logistical challenges legislators face while traveling within their constituencies. In response, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced on August 19 that the government would provide official vehicles to all 234 MLAs to assist with constituency visits, the monitoring of government projects, and grievance redressal. The Chief Minister also introduced a monthly allowance of ₹75,000 for fuel, maintenance, and driver costs, along with an additional ₹25,000 for an assistant.
The announcement sparked significant political debate regarding public spending, particularly as asset declarations suggested that many MLAs or their families already possess personal vehicles. Following the announcement, the DMK declared on August 21 that its 59 MLAs would decline the government-provided vehicles, citing the state's current financial situation. Several other political leaders have also questioned the necessity of the scheme.
