Kerala Assembly Data Triggers Political Storm Over MP Contributions to Wayanad Relief
Figures presented in the Kerala assembly regarding Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) contributions for Wayanad landslide rehabilitation have ignited a fierce political debate across the state. The government-tabled list identifies 17 Lok Sabha MPs from Kerala who, according to official records, did not allocate any MPLADS funds specifically for rehabilitation and infrastructure development in the landslide-affected Wayanad region.
Controversial List Includes Prominent Names
The controversial compilation features Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi alongside 15 other United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) representative Suresh Gopi. Notably absent from this non-contributor list are Lok Sabha members Shafi Parambil, N K Premachandran, and K Radhakrishnan. Of these three, Radhakrishnan represents the Left Democratic Front (LDF), adding complexity to the political narrative.
However, government officials have clarified that this list reflects only MPLADS allocations designated for a specific rehabilitation component. The compilation does not, by itself, establish that the named MPs were disengaged from relief or rehabilitation efforts. Contributions could have occurred through multiple alternative channels including coordination with central agencies, facilitation of assistance through political party mechanisms, corporate social responsibility (CSR) mobilization, or direct intervention in relief operations.
MPs Challenge Government's Characterization
Responding to the disclosure, MP N K Premachandran directly contradicted the government's characterization, stating emphatically: "I received a letter seeking allocation from my MPLADS funds for the Wayanad rehabilitation. I sanctioned Rs 10 lakh from my MPLADS allocation." This statement suggests potential discrepancies in how contributions were recorded or categorized by the administration.
The same pattern emerges in Rajya Sabha data, where those identified as non-contributors are Jeby Methar, Harris Beeran, and P V Abdul Wahab—all representing the UDF. Kerala's six other Rajya Sabha MPs, all from the LDF—Jose K Mani, P P Suneer, A A Rahim, Santhosh Kumar, and John Brittas—do not appear on the non-contributor list.
Political Motivations Alleged
Reacting to his inclusion on the list, Rajya Sabha MP Harris Beeran asserted that the decision was fundamentally political rather than administrative. "It was our collective decision that we need not contribute to the Chief Minister's fund collection for Wayanad. That does not mean we haven't done anything for Wayanad rehabilitation," Beeran explained, highlighting what opposition figures characterize as selective transparency.
Meanwhile, the government has acknowledged that it has yet to compile a corresponding list of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who did not contribute toward Wayanad rehabilitation. With the LDF holding 99 assembly seats, any comprehensive list of non-contributing MLAs would likely include LDF members. The absence of this MLA list, even as detailed MP data was released, has intensified debates about transparency and political targeting.
Utilization Figures Raise Additional Questions
According to official figures, of the Rs 773.98 crore received from the public toward Wayanad rehabilitation, only Rs 165.87 crore has been utilized thus far. While the government's disclosure shifts political attention to contribution patterns, these utilization statistics redirect focus toward administrative execution and project timelines.
The emerging controversy underscores broader tensions between political narratives and ground-level rehabilitation efforts, with competing claims about engagement, contribution mechanisms, and the selective nature of transparency in disaster response accountability.
