BJP MLAs in Delhi scramble to spend funds before re-election

NEW DELHI: Five days after the administration released the local area development fund, MLAs are scrambling to get projects sanctioned so that work can start just before the re-election, which is likely in a few months. Most MLAs plan to spend their annual allocation - Rs 4 crore - in the next three months. From roads to installation of fancy streetlights in parks, most MLAs are ready with a to-do list for their constituency.

While AAP MLAs are holding mohalla sabhas to shortlist developmental projects in their constituencies, BJP MLAs have gone a step ahead. They have asked departments to prepare estimates for projects, which they had identified while campaigning for the assembly election. "No developmental work has been sanctioned since October last year due to back-to-back elections. Now, we want to get maximum work done. We had identified these projects while campaigning," said Mahinder Nagpal, BJP MLA from Wazirpur, who has already sanctioned projects worth Rs 1.5 crore. Nagpal has approved projects for relaying of roads, installation of streetlights on the main road and high-mast lights in parks.

MLAs want to start as many projects as possible before the poll code comes into force. "It takes two to three months to get a project cleared from government departments. If the work orders are not issued before the poll code, then the plan can't get off the ground," said Rajesh Gehlot, BJP MLA from Matiala, who too has identified several projects.

From installing streetlights to constructing drains, MLAs are trying to solve the most basic civic issues as there is little for big projects. Most BJP MLAs are focusing on unauthorized colonies, slums, resettlement colonies, all AAP strongholds. By addressing civic issues, the party hopes to woo the vote bank which stood by AAP in the Lok Sabha election despite the Modi wave and AAP's 49 days of "misrule".

R P Singh, BJP MLA from Rajinder Nagar, has approved projects worth Rs 78 lakh for laying sewer lines in resettlement colonies like Buddh Vihar, an area Singh lost during the assembly election by 1,200-odd votes. "In the past six months, I have tried to connect with the locals in the area. In Lok Sabha, we won this area by a small margin. We want to strengthen our base in these areas,'' said Singh.

Senior BJP leader and the MLA from Janakpuri, Jagdish Mukhi, admits that the party needs to make concentrated efforts to connect with the voters in unauthorized colonies, slums and resettlement colonies. "We have to focus on unauthorized colonies and slums. In my previous term, I got sewer lines laid in these areas. Now, we are connecting colony lanes to the main sewer,'' said Mukhi.

While MLAs are working hard to identify new projects, they fear a majority of the projects will not reach the implementation stage before the election. "We hope to finalize all projects by the month-end. The approval process is time-consuming. Once the projects are approved, I'll make the local RWA members in charge of the monitoring committee. They will monitor the work. This will help us rope in local people in the administrative process,'' said Singh.