Karnataka MPs failed to use fully utilise MPLAD funds, says Congress spokesperson

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M. Lakshmana said the annual allocation for MPs from Karnataka under the MPLAD scheme was ₹144 crore. But, only ₹60 crore had been released so far this year, he claimed, and questioned when MPs from Karnataka will secure release of the remaining funds.

Karnataka’s MPs have failed to fully utilise their Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme funds, alleged the Congress party.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M. Lakshmana said the MPs of Karnataka, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, were entitled to a total of ₹488 crore under MPLAD scheme during their five-year term. Of this, barely ₹225 crore had been released under the scheme so far, he claimed.

Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on December 10, Mr Lakshmana said the annual allocation for MPs from Karnataka under the MPLAD scheme was ₹144 crore. But, only ₹60 crore had been released so far this year, he claimed, and questioned when MPs from Karnataka will secure release of the remaining funds.

Mr Lakshmana said Mysuru MP Pratap Simmha is entitled to ₹17 crore. He alleged that the Mysuru MP had not got even half of this amount. He also questioned the progress achieved in Karimuddanahalli in Hunsur taluk, which had been adopted as a model village, during the last five years.

With barely two months – January and February – left for the year to conclude, as the notification for the Lok Sabha elections is scheduled to be issued in March, Mr Lakshmana questioned when the remainder of the funds will be used by the MP. The Mysuru MP could have used the funds even for arranging fodder for the cattle at a time when the State was passing through drought.

Citing reports in a section of the media, Mr Lakshmana said the Mysuru MP, who had earlier promised a metro for Mysuru, is now claiming that metro is not possible for a city that does not have a population of 40 lakh.

He said the BJP is raising false hopes among the people of the region by referring to the microchip unit planned at Kadakola on the outskirts of Mysuru at a cost of ₹22,000 crore. “Where has it gone? It has been shifted to Gujarat,” Mr Lakshmana said.