The Odisha government has withdrawn four bills that aimed to increase the salaries of MLAs, ministers, speaker, and deputy speaker threefold.
The bills, introduced in December 2025, had proposed raising MLAs' monthly remuneration from ₹1.11 lakh to ₹3.45 lakh.
The revised structure would have seen the chief minister's monthly pay at ₹3.74 lakh, while cabinet ministers would have received ₹3.62 lakh.
The government had defended the hike, citing an eight-year gap and inflationary pressures, but the 211% increase drew sharp criticism from citizens and the opposition.
Following the backlash, BJD president Naveen Patnaik had announced he would forego the enhanced salary and allowances applicable to his post.
The development sparked appeals from legislators across party lines, urging the chief minister to reconsider the salary revisions.
