Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 7 (IANS): BJP's Kerala state President K.Surendran on Monday asked the state government to take a cue from the Centre and reduce pay and perks of legislators.

" This decision to cut the pay and perks by 30 per cent for a year and the MPLAD scheme for two years by the Centre has been widely welcomed and hence Kerala should take such a step. This is being done to tide over the financial crisis which the country is facing in the wake of Covid-19. Kerala CM, Ministers and legislators also should do the same," he said.

The BJP has just one member in the 140-member Kerala Assembly.

Incidentally Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has contributed Rs 1 lakh for Covid relief, has asked all his cabinet ministers to do the same, and they have complied.

Vijayan has also announced a salary challenge (one month) for the state government employees, which the Congress-led opposition has objected to, saying it should not be compulsory and exemptions should be given to all those sections who are presently engaged in fighting Covid-19 spread.