Himachal BJP Demands Immediate Release of Stalled MLA Development Funds
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh has launched a significant protest against the state government, accusing it of deliberately withholding crucial development funds for legislators. In a formal memorandum submitted to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Friday, the opposition party demanded the immediate release of MLA Local Area Development Funds (LADs) and discretionary funds, which they claim have been stalled since October 2025.
Allegations of Systematic Fund Withholding
Led by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, the BJP Legislative Party delegation presented detailed allegations to the Governor. The party asserts that the state government has not released MLA LADs for several months, creating substantial difficulties for legislators in fulfilling development promises made to their constituents. This situation has reportedly left many public representatives struggling to address basic infrastructure needs and community development projects.
The memorandum highlighted that Himachal Pradesh suffered extensive damage from natural disasters in 2025, making the timely release of MLA funds particularly critical for restoration and rehabilitation work. Despite budgetary provisions for these funds, the government has allegedly released only half the allocated amounts while withholding the remainder, severely impacting recovery efforts in affected areas.
Impact on Development Work and Public Trust
According to the BJP's submission, the withholding of funds extends beyond LADs to include MLAs' discretionary funds, which are essential for providing immediate assistance to vulnerable populations. "The non-release of discretionary funds creates significant hurdles in helping the poor, the sick, and disaster-affected people," the memorandum stated, adding that this situation undermines the credibility of elected representatives.
Jai Ram Thakur, who previously served as Chief Minister, elaborated on the systematic nature of the problem. "Himachal Pradesh has a long-standing tradition where MLAs identify development priorities that are then registered with departments like PWD and Jal Shakti. However, for the past three years, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for priorities submitted by opposition MLAs are neither being prepared nor forwarded to NABARD for approval," he explained.
Specific Financial Grievances and Democratic Concerns
The former chief minister provided specific financial details to support the allegations. "Only two instalments of MLA funds, each worth Rs 55 lakh, have been released, while the remaining amounts continue to be withheld. In numerous cases, payments have been stopped at the treasury level even after official approval letters have been issued," Thakur revealed during the meeting with the Governor.
He characterized this situation as contrary to democratic principles and the spirit of equitable development. "Development work in opposition-held areas is being systematically stalled, creating an uneven playing field that disadvantages certain constituencies," Thakur asserted, emphasizing the need for balanced development across all regions of the state.
BJP's Demands and Political Response
The BJP Legislature Party has formally requested Governor Shukla to intervene and direct the state government to:
- Immediately release all pending MLA LAD funds
- Release discretionary funds without further delay
- Prepare Detailed Project Reports for development priorities identified by opposition MLAs
- Forward these DPRs to NABARD for approval to ensure balanced regional development
The delegation included numerous prominent BJP MLAs, demonstrating the party's unified stance on this issue. Among those present were Vipin Parmar, Satpal Satti, Vikram Thakur, Randhir Sharma, D.S. Thakur, Rakesh Jamwal, Pawan Kajal, Sukhram Chaudhary, Dilip Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Dr. Janak Raj, Deep Raj Kapoor, Lokender Kumar, Prakash Rana, Reena Kashyap, Trilok Jamwal, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Surender Shourie, Puran Chand, Jeet Ram Katwal, Hans Raj, and Balbir Verma.
This confrontation represents a significant escalation in political tensions within Himachal Pradesh, with the opposition party directly challenging the government's allocation of development resources and accusing it of partisan fund distribution that disadvantages opposition-held constituencies.
