Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee’s zealous anti-acquisition drive might have given her some browniepoints, but her poor record as an MP is nullifying those gains.
And that’s exactly what the CPI(M) is trying to project as part of their main election plank that targets Mamata, not her party. The Front got the ammunition from a recent survey conducted by PRS Legislative Research on the legislative performance of the Lok Sabha members within and outside Parliament. The findings reveal that Mamata belongs right at the bottom of the heap — among the ten worst performing MPs.
Much to the Trinamool’s embarrassment, her poor scores are being publicised by the CPI(M) through leaflets, party mouthpiece Ganashakti, and plastered on hoardings — all in the leader’s own constituency — south Kolkata. The idea is to corner her in her backyard and force her to face queries from voters.
Not only has Mamata performed dismally as MP, she has not used the money allotted as part of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) to improve public services in her constituency, the survey shows.
Of the 332 working days in parliament, she was present on 56 days. Moreover, she wasn’t present a single day the sixth, ninth and 15th sessions of Parliament. As regards the use of MPLAD funds, Mamata ranks last among all the 42 Lok Sabha members from West Bengal, a report by the Centre. In terms of the percentage use, she fares badly both at the state and central levels.
