Lekhi most vocal, Tiwari least among MPs from Delhi

By Nivedita Singh

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Lok Sabha MP from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari, though very vocal in public remained almost silent in Parliament in the past five years in comparison with his fellow MPs from the national capital.

Of the seven MPs, New Delhi's Meenakashi Lekhi took part in the most number of debates in the 16th Lok Sabha.

Tiwari participated in only nine debates since he took over as the Delhi BJP Chief in May 2014, while Lekhi, the only woman MP from Delhi, outperformed all her counterparts by taking part in 141 debates, according to data available in Parliament records.

North West Delhi MP Udit Raj was part of 124 debates, while South Delhi's Ramesh Bidhuri participated in 95 debates. East Delhi's Maheish Girri participated in 57 debates, Chandni Chowk MP Dr Harsh Vardhan in 56 and Parvesh Sahib Singh from West Delhi in 25. Parvesh Sahib Singh was the second last on the list.

Apart from taking part in the debates, they also raised questions. While Union Minister Vardhan was representing the government in the Lok Sabha, Girri, a Matric pass leader from Maharashtra, topped the list with 446 questions.

The issues raised by Girri included a special mention requesting increase in the number of police personnel in Delhi as well as demands for merging Delhi's three municipal corporations, a link between the Dilshad Garden and Anand Vihar Metro Stations and a helipad in the East Delhi parliamentary constituency.

Lekhi stood second with 436 questions, though she did not raise many city-related issues. Among debates and bills she took up in the House were special mentions regarding the alleged misuse of public money by the Delhi government and house tax waiver in the state.

Udit Raj asked 350 questions and took part in 124 debates, 48 special mentions and introduced 21 private members' bill. Hailing from UP, the 61-year-old MP asked questions related to the garbage dump at Bhalswa, Delhi's land pooling policy as well as development of Narela as a modern township.

Tiwari was fourth with 258 questions. He participated in nine debates and had three special mentions, but no private member bill in his account.

West Delhi MP Sahib Singh asked 207 questions and was part of 25 debates, six special mentions and seven private member bills. He also raised the demand for more colleges in Delhi.

Bidhuri asked 188 questions and took part in 95 debates. He was part of 49 special mentions and eight private member bills.

The BJP, holding all the parliamentary seats in Delhi, is yet to declare candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The national capital's seven constituencies will go to vote on May 12.

(Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in)