T’puram: Figures tabled in the assembly on contributions to Wayanad landslide rehabilitation by MPs has triggered a political debate. The list names 17 Lok Sabha MPs from Kerala who, according to the govt, did not allocate MPLADS funds for rehabilitation and infrastructure development in Wayanad. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi along with 15 other UDF MPs and NDA MP Suresh Gopi feature in the list. Lok Sabha MPs who do not figure in the list are Shafi Parambil, N K Premachandran and K Radhakrishnan. Of these, Radhakrishnan represents the LDF. However, the govt’s list reflects only MPLADS allocations for a specific rehabilitation component. It does not, by itself, establish that the MPs were disengaged from relief or rehabilitation efforts. Contributions could have occurred through other channels co-ordination with central agencies, facilitation of assistance, political party mechanisms, CSR mobilisation or direct intervention. Responding to the disclosure, Premachandran said he, in fact, contributed from his MPLADS allocation. “I received a letter seeking allocation from my MPLADS funds for the Wayanad rehabilitation. I sanctioned Rs 10 lakh from my MPLADS allocation,” he said. The same pattern is visible in the Rajya Sabha data. Those identified as not contributing are Jeby Methar, Harris Beeran and P V Abdul Wahab, all from the UDF. Kerala has six other Rajya Sabha MPs, all representing the LDF Jose K Mani, P P Suneer, A A Rahim, Santhosh Kumar and John Brittas, and none of them appear in the non-contributor list.Reacting to the disclosure, Beeran said the decision was political rather than administrative. “It was our collective decision that we need not contribute to the CM’s fund collection for Wayanad. That does not mean we haven’t done anything for Wayanad rehabilitation,” he said.On the other hand, the govt said it is yet to compile the list of MLAs who did not contribute towards Wayanad rehabilitation. LDF has 99 MLAs, and any comprehensive list of non-contributing MLAs is prepared, may well include LDF members. The absence of that list, even as a detailed MP list was released, adds to the transparency debate.According to official figures, of the Rs 773.98 crore received from the public towards Wayanad rehabilitation, only Rs 165.87 crore has been utilised so far. When the govt’s disclosure shifts the spotlight onto political contribution patterns, the utilisation data shifts attention to administrative execution and timelines.
