Chennai: A new chapter has begun in Tamil Nadu's political history. As Thalapathy Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister, celebrations erupted across the state.
His party has now taken charge under the Dravidian political platform.
At the same time, discussions have started around the salary and allowances Vijay will receive as Chief Minister. How much does a Chief Minister earn? What are the monthly salaries of ministers and MLAs? How is their income taxed? Here is the complete breakdown.
According to the current figures, the official salaries from the Chief Minister to MLAs in Tamil Nadu are as follows:
Chief Minister (CM)
CM Vijay will receive a monthly salary ranging between Rs 2.85 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. This includes:
- Basic salary: Rs 1.05 lakh
- Constituency allowance: Rs 87,000
- Office allowance: Rs 75,000
According to reports, Vijay will earn around Rs 34 lakh annually as Chief Minister.
Ministers
Ministers receive salaries almost equal to the Chief Minister or slightly lower, which comes to around Rs 2.50 lakh per month.
MLAs
MLAs receive monthly salaries and allowances ranging from Rs 1,05,000 to Rs 1.15 lakh. This includes basic pay, constituency allowance, telephone expenses and medical benefits.
Tax burden on Chief Minister; exemption structure for MLAs
There is now curiosity over how a star actor like Vijay, who reportedly owns assets worth more than Rs 600 crore, will be taxed on the salary he receives as a public representative.
A Chief Minister is considered a "government employee." The Income Tax Department classifies the remuneration received by a Chief Minister as "Salary." This was earlier clarified by the court in the case involving Lalu Prasad Yadav. Legally, there exists an employer-employee relationship between the government and the Chief Minister. Therefore, like any salaried employee, the CM must pay income tax under all applicable tax slabs, including standard deductions.
However, MLAs and MPs are not considered government employees; they are public representatives. Hence, their earnings are treated as "Income from Other Sources" instead of salary. Since there is no employer-employee relationship, they are eligible for deductions related to office expenses, assistants and similar expenditures.
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Vijay owns assets worth Rs 624 crore
According to his affidavit, Vijay has declared assets worth around Rs 624 crore. As Chief Minister, he will now have to separately account for his personal income from films and businesses, along with the salary provided by the government, while filing Income Tax Returns (ITR).
Though Vijay was earning massive remuneration from films, he will now receive around Rs 3 lakh per month as a public servant. However, he will still have to account for every rupee earned and pay taxes accordingly.
What other facilities will Vijay receive?
Apart from salary, Vijay will also receive several official facilities as Chief Minister.
He will be provided with a fully furnished government bungalow in Chennai. He will receive Z+ category security cover. Instead of private bodyguards, an armed security force will surround him. Escort vehicles will accompany him wherever he travels. A bulletproof SUV will also be provided. His security will be handled by the police and intelligence departments.
Aircraft and helicopter facilities will be kept ready for official travel, with all expenses borne by the government.
Medical benefits will be extended not only to Vijay but also to his family members, with the government covering all related expenses.
Vijay reportedly used to charge Rs 200 crore for a single film, while his movies generated massive box office collections. Now, as a government employee, he will serve the 7.5 crore people of Tamil Nadu.
It is considered remarkable that a star actor entered politics at the peak of his film career and became Chief Minister in his very first major political attempt.