Himachal Pradesh News
BJP Slams Himachal Govt for ‘Arbitrary’ Withdrawal of MLA Development Funds
BJP MLAs in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly criticised the state government for withdrawing unspent MLA Area Development and discretionary funds, calling the move arbitrary and undemocratic. The government says only unutilised amounts were reclaimed as per financial norms and will be reissued after fresh proposals.
The winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha saw sharp exchanges on Monday as BJP legislators objected to the state government’s decision to withdraw MLA Area Development and discretionary funds.
Raising the matter during question hour, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and BJP MLA Vipin Parmar termed the move arbitrary and undemocratic. They argued that withdrawing these funds undermines the ability of elected representatives to carry out development work in their constituencies.
BJP MLAs alleged that several block offices under the Rural Development and Panchayat Department had withdrawn sanctioned amounts without informing the respective MLAs. They said crucial details—such as the status of funds, the projects for which they were originally sanctioned, and the authority under which the withdrawals were made—had not been shared.
The Opposition maintained that taking away MLA funds effectively deprives the public of essential development works. Calling it a violation of democratic rights, they demanded the immediate reversal of the withdrawals. They further claimed that several projects, particularly in rural areas, had come to a halt and accused the government of selectively targeting constituencies represented by Opposition MLAs.
Responding to the criticism, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Anirudh Singh clarified that only unspent amounts as of the end of 2023 had been withdrawn. He said the decision was made strictly in accordance with financial rules and emphasised that no ongoing or active project had been disrupted. The funds were reclaimed to prevent them from lapsing and to allow efficient reallocation, he added.
Singh assured the House that funds would be released again once MLAs submit fresh development proposals. Rejecting allegations of political bias, he said the government was committed to ensuring balanced development across all constituencies.
To improve transparency, the minister announced that detailed letters would soon be sent to all MLAs. These will outline the total amounts withdrawn from each constituency, the status of the projects for which the funds were sanctioned, and the reasons behind delays or non-completion.
