BJP-led Delhi Govt slashed MLA fund from ₹15 crore under AAP Govt to ₹5 crore, betraying Delhiites: Saurabh Bharadwaj

The BJP government has slashed the MLA Local Area Development (LAD) Fund from ₹15 crore to just ₹5 crore, dealing a direct blow to development works in Delhi. AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj hit out at the BJP, saying the party has betrayed Delhiites by cutting the fund meant for their welfare.

He questioned how, after announcing a ₹1 lakh crore budget, the BJP could justify such a drastic cut—unless the budget itself was just another jumla. Under the AAP government, MLAs received ₹15 crore and were able to complete all essential works in their constituencies. Senior AAP leaders including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Ajay Dutt emphasised that the BJP simply doesn’t know how to govern—no responsible government shuts down public welfare by slashing funds.

During a press conference, AAP’s Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “In Delhi, each MLA used to receive ₹15 crore annually under the Aam Aadmi Party government as part of the MLALAD Fund. This fund is used for urgent, local development works that improve people’s day-to-day lives. If a road is broken, a sewer line needed, lights missing in a colony, or parks need repair, MLAs use discretionary funds to address these issues—including installing tube wells where there’s no water. The AAP government allocated ₹15 crore annually per MLA for such purposes.”

He continued, “Just a couple of months ago, the BJP presented a new budget for Delhi. They made a lot of noise about it being ₹1 lakh crore, up from ₹70,000 crore previously. This was done for the ‘jumla’ of significantly increased public spending to float. Logically, if the budget increases, the allocation for MLA funds should also increase.”

“By that reasoning, the ₹15 crore per MLA should have gone up to ₹25 crore. But instead, the BJP government slashed the allocation to just ₹5 crore—one-third of the previous amount. This reveals their dishonesty. They started misleading the people of Delhi from the moment the budget was presented,” he asserted.

The AAP Delhi State President stated the reality is that the BJP doesn’t know how to run a government. They are cutting funds in every sector that benefits the public. There used to be 545 Mohalla Clinics in Delhi. As soon as they came to power, they announced that 250 would be shut down, claiming they needed to save money. A few days ago, a BJP minister even stated that the remaining clinics would also be shut. Why? Because they don’t want to spend money on people’s welfare.

He added, “Earlier, if a diagnostic test wasn’t available at a government hospital, it could be done for free at a private one. If someone met with an accident on the road, they could get free treatment in a private hospital under the Farishtey Scheme. Every initiative that directly benefited the public is now being dismantled because this government simply does not know how to govern.”

Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that they tabled a ₹1 lakh crore budget just for the optics, but they don’t actually have that money. So now, they’re cutting essential funds from every possible area. And to claim that the MLA fund was being wasted is an outright lie. Every time the AAP government allocated MLA funds, those funds were fully utilized.

“In fact, the last time, many MLAs couldn’t spend the money only because the BJP deliberately intervened. The MCD Commissioner, on instructions, blocked several projects approved by MLAs. Similar obstructions were made in the Jal Board. So yes, some money remained unspent, but only because of political interference,” he revealed.

Saurabh Bharadwaj further revealed that whether the MLA is from the BJP or AAP, about 80 to 90 percent of them fully utilized their allotted budgets. The few exceptions would only be due to unavoidable constraints. This cut in MLA funds is completely anti-Delhi.

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Burari MLA, Sanjeev Jha stated, “During the AAP government, each MLA received ₹15 crore for constituency development. Now under the BJP government, that amount has been slashed to just ₹5 crore. Presently, the Delhi Assembly has 48 BJP MLAs and 22 AAP MLAs. The MLA fund is most useful in areas where other types of funding can’t reach—what we call untied funds.”

He continued, “MLA funds are not restricted; they can be used wherever necessary, as per public needs. In my own constituency, there are areas making up 20–25% of the total geography where no tied funds are available at all. Only the MLA fund can be used for development there.”

“How can roads be built, drains cleaned, and water pipelines laid in such vast areas with just ₹5 crore? It’s impossible. This cut essentially means that the BJP government wants people to suffer. If areas get flooded during the monsoon, so be it. If people face hardships, the BJP is indifferent to it,” he asserted.

The Burari MLA added that in just four months, the BJP government has caused so much distress to the people of Delhi that they are now completely fed up. In my own constituency, the hospital is no longer providing medicines. This is the same hospital where, under the AAP government, there was never a shortage of medicines. No department has funds left. In our area, development was running on funds allocated to authorized colonies, but now all work has come to a standstill.

“Contractors are saying they have no money left to continue work—they’ve completed their tasks but are still waiting for the government to release payments. PWD has no funds. The condition of the sewer system under the Delhi Jal Board is abysmal; dirty water is flowing through the drains because even the Jal Board has no money,” he shared.

Sanjeev Jha stated that it seems this BJP government, having come to power after a long time, is now behaving like a pack of starving wolves, ready to tear apart the people of Delhi. If the budget is truly ₹1 lakh crore, then the MLA fund should have increased from ₹15 crore to even more—not decreased. Where is all this money going? This isn’t about AAP MLAs alone. The BJP has 48 MLAs in the Assembly, and they too will be affected by this drastic cut.

“When MLA funds are slashed, it’s the public that suffers directly. Development in the constituencies is halted. From what we are witnessing, it’s clear the BJP government in Delhi is entirely focused on exploiting and draining the city. They seem unconcerned about what’s actually happening to the people here. They came to power with grand promises, earned votes on the basis of those promises—and now the public feels utterly deceived,” emphasised the senior AAP leader.

Adding to it, AAP MLA from Dr. Ambedkar Nagar constituency Ajay Dutt stated, “The current situation is such that if we want to carry out any work through the Delhi Jal Board—like laying a sewer or a water line—we repeatedly hear the same excuse: ‘There’s no budget.’ The MLA fund is like liquid cash—it allows us to respond quickly to urgent local needs without getting stuck in bureaucratic red tape. This fund is the only way we can immediately begin work when the public is facing trouble.”

He emphasised that people across Delhi are now in distress. BJP made big promises, but none have been fulfilled. First, they claimed they would provide ₹2,500 to women—never happened. Then they said they’d improve the Jal Board and ensure there would be no water scarcity. But now, across Delhi, there’s panic because water is either unavailable or contaminated. We need funds to fix sewers, prepare for the monsoon, install swings and open-air gyms, or build walking tracks in parks—all of which depend on MLA funds.

“And yet, they’ve slashed this crucial fund while boasting about a ₹1 lakh crore budget. In reality, each MLA should’ve received ₹25 to ₹35 crore this year to meet public needs and improve amenities. This whole situation shows that the BJP government in Delhi has completely failed. All they have to offer are ‘jumla(s)’. Delhiites are now missing the days of the AAP government, which always prioritized pro people governance.”

Ajay Dutt stated that reducing the MLA fund from ₹15 crore to ₹5 crore is deeply unfortunate. AAP has always used these funds for genuine development. But with only ₹5 crore per MLA now, what can we possibly achieve? This is an extremely limited amount, and I don’t think it will allow for any meaningful development. All of us MLAs are extremely disappointed that the work meant for the people of Delhi is being obstructed—and will continue to be obstructed.