Pune:
Pune MP Suresh Kalmadi, who was sacked as the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee boss for his non-performance and alleged involvement in the CWG scam, has added another "feather" in his cap: he has been ranked the worst-performing member of Parliament in the state as far as utilisation of MP funds is concerned.
According to a Union government data on the total expenditure by MPs till July 5, 2011, the disgraced Congress leader, who is cooling his heels in Tihar Jail since April 25, has spent only Rs 55 lakh since his election in 2009. Earlier, a member of Parliament was entitled for Rs 2 crore annually for his/her constituency, but the amount has been increased to Rs 5 crore from this financial year.
According to political observers, given the dismal track record of Kalmadi, the increase in funds seems to do no better to the city as the MP won't be able to spend the money which will eventually be returned to the Central government.
But Kalmadi's party colleagues justified his "inability" to spend MP funds saying that initially Kalmadi was busy organising the Games and then he got embroiled in the CWG controversy. So had to spend all his time, energy and attention fighting corruption charges leveled against him leveled by his detractors.
Pune 'priority'?Vikas Mathkari, BJP City President said, "Pune was never on Kalmadi's priority list. He spent a meager 20 per cent of Rs 4 crore he received as an MP in the past two years. This shows how serious he is towards development of Pune and betterment of its people."
Shyam Deshpande, a Shiv Sena leader from the Pune Municipal Corporation, said, "Punekars want an MP who will work for the city and also contribute to its development. Kalmadi should tender his resign taking moral responsibility for failing to perform as an elected representative of the people. It is really sad that we have not yet got a single responsible and accountable MP so far." Ashok Kulkarni, a resident of Sahakarnagar, quipped, "We must investigate into the funds that Kalmadi has spent so far. Who knows there may be a scam in that too."
The other sideThe city unit of the Congress, however, played safe over the issue as the party has already suspended the leader for his alleged involvement in the CWG scam. A Congress office bearer, on the condition of anonymity, said the allegation that the MP spent only Rs 55 lakh was baseless. "He has already sent letters to the district collector for approving various developmental projects in Pune. We can't give the details now because the office is closed today." Abhay Chhajed, the Pune Congress President, also added, "We don't have the details on how much Kalmadi has spent so far."