Lok Sabha poll are round the corner. Political parties start approaching the voters with lots of promises. The voters are set to pause and ponder over the performances of the sitting legislators after five years. But how? What would be the yardstick to assess or evaluate their performances? Take the utilization of the funds they got from the Centre to develop their local areas. The document is in public domain.
If the utilization of the MPLD fund is any indication, then Asom Gana Parishad MP Joseph Toppo tops the Lok Sabha members from the state. On the contrary, his Congress counterpart Lalit Mohan Suklavaidya is trailing behind all the 13 MPs in this field.
According to statistics available with the government, during the last four fiscal, the AGP MP from Tezpur has utilized 99.48 percent of the total Rs 12.82 crore fund he was recommended for this purpose. The Congress MP from Karimganj has yet to utilize Rs 7.24 crore in his constituency out of the Rs 16.54 crore fund available for him during this period.
Next to Toppo is Sangsuma Khunggur Basumatary from Kokrajhar. The BPF MP has utilized Rs 9.85 crore in his constituency out of Rs 11.64 crore available for him. The third MP to have get maximum amount utilized in his constituency is Biren Singh Engti. The Congress MP from Karbi Anglong has only Rs 2.24 crore left to be utilized out of Rs 11.79 crore sanctioned during the last four years.
Next to Engti is Badaruddin Ajmal. The AIUDF MP from Dhubri had Rs 6.61crore for local area development. But he managed to utilize only Rs 2.78 per cent during this period.
Union minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar managed to utilize only 71.58 percent of fund he had at hand for local area development during the last 4 years. The Congress MP from Dibrugarh got Rs 16.95 crore available for the purpose but he has still a huge Rs 5.14 crore to be utilized.
Same it is in the case of Ranee Narah. The Union minister and Lakhimpur Congress MP got a Rs 14.31 crore fund for her local area development. But she utilized only Rs 9.72 crore.
Jorhat MP Bijoy Krishna Handique’s performance deems dismal in terms of utilization of MPLAD fund in his constituency. The former Union minister is yet to utilize Rs 5.13 crore out of Rs 16. 58 crore. He has utilized only 69.39 per cent of the fund.
Performance in terms of utilization of MPLAD fund stands dismal for BJPs MP Ramen Deka and Rajen Gohain and Kabindra Purkayastha. Deka, the Mangaldoi MP has utilized only 63.70 per cent of the Rs 16.14 crore he got recommended. Nagaon MP Gohain still has Rs 5.41 crore out of Rs 16.64 crore he was sanctioned during this period. On the other hand, former Union minister and BJP veteran in the Barak valley has failed to utilize Rs 6.54 crore out of Rs 16.66 crore available for him with interest during this period.
BJP and its ruling coalition partners would have to pay heavy price in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls if what the experts dealing with the north eastern affairs say are any indication. Veteran journalist Sanjoy Hazarika said the escalating anger might adversely impact the BJP's voter base in the region. Excerpts from the interview with Sanjoy Hazarika, journalist author, and currently Director of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.
AT: How would you justify the seismic wave of protests in the entire north east against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016?
Sanjoy Hazarika: What is there to justify: this is public anger at the Centre for not listening to the concerns of people in the...
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