Know Your MP: Development Unleashed Inside Mandal’s Bhagalpur Blueprint

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 26th October: In the heartland of Bihar, Ajay Kumar Mandal stands out as a Janata Dal (United) parliamentarian whose grassroots connect and commitment to public service are well-documented. Representing Bhagalpur, a constituency with diverse needs and vast untapped potential, Mandal has used both his political capital and MPLAD Scheme resources to chart a development-centric agenda respected across party lines.

Political Journey and Leadership Vision

Ajay Kumar Mandal, an experienced leader and the sitting Member of Parliament from Bhagalpur, has served his region for over two decades as both MLA and MP. His tenure has been marked by a focus on welfare, transparency, and social inclusion. Mandal’s approach blends responsive representation with a results-oriented style, underpinning regional aspirations with practical action.

Bhagalpur, famous for its silk and history, has more recently become synonymous with grassroots development, thanks in large measure to Mandal’s commitment. With a legislative career marked by a hands-on, community-focused agenda, he consistently channels state and central funds toward high-impact projects, with the MPLAD Scheme as the backbone of many of his initiatives.

MPLAD Funds—Released and Utilized

 

The annual entitlement for an MP under MPLAD is ₹5 crore, meant for addressing pressing developmental gaps in the constituency. Since his current Lok Sabha tenure began, Mandal’s constituency has seen a systematic inflow of MPLAD funds, even as the scheme faced suspensions during the pandemic years.

Yearly Fund Overview (Select Recent Years):

• 2019-20: ₹5 crores sanctioned; over ₹2 crores used.
• 2020-21: Due to the pandemic, most MPLAD operations were suspended nationally and funds were rerouted to central pandemic relief, but pending previous allocations were released.
• 2021-22: Of previously held funds, over ₹2 crores were expensed on delayed or resumed works as operations restarted.
• 2022-23: Full allotment restored, with approximately ₹8 crores issued; over ₹4 crores utilized within the fiscal year.
• 2023-24: Mandal’s efforts resulted in fast-tracking approvals; nearly ₹5 crores released, of which more than ₹5 crores had been spent or positioned for immediate use by mid-2024.
• 2024-25: Moving into the current year, the constituency received its first ₹5 crore tranche, with major projects already underway, especially in infrastructure and drinking water.

Cumulatively, Mandal has overseen the receipt or recommendation of more than ₹20 crores over five years, with total verified expenditure over ₹18.7 crores—a utilization ratio of nearly 93%, markedly above the national average.

Focused Expenditure: Areas of Impact

Mandal’s core strategy puts the spotlight on projects with the deepest grassroot impact:

• Infrastructure: Hundreds of lakhs have gone into concrete rural roads, improved links between far-flung villages, and bridges critical for local trade and schoolchildren’s commutes.
• Sanitation and Water: Substantial funds dedicated to group latrine complexes and drinking water supply units have reduced disease and improved quality of life in marginalized wards.
• Community Assets: Investments in multipurpose halls, community centers, and crematoriums provide lasting social value, nurturing a sense of inclusion and dignity.
• Education & Health: Additional classrooms, science lab upgrades, boundary walls, and procurement of ambulances or hospital equipment strengthened the educational and health foundation of the local population.

Development with Accountability

For Ajay Kumar Mandal, development is not merely about spending, but about ensuring every rupee delivers value at the grassroots. His office established a transparent monitoring mechanism, inviting community participation in both proposal selection and project oversight. This participatory model reduced delays and encouraged alignment with real, on-ground requirements.

Impact and Community Voices

Beneficiaries routinely highlight the visible transformation in infrastructure, especially in rural blocks that once lagged behind. Improved roads have cut down travel time to markets and healthcare facilities. Enhanced water supply and sanitation projects have tangibly improved public health outcomes, decreasing the seasonal disease burden.

Community leaders credit Mandal’s hands-on approach as key to successful project implementation, noting his preference for inspecting works personally and resolving bottlenecks in administrative clearances.

A Model of Inclusive Progress

Ajay Kumar Mandal’s stewardship of MPLADS in Bhagalpur is an exemplar of how targeted, participative, and accountable development can alter the trajectory of a region. His work underscores a fundamental political truth: responsive representation, backed by transparent fund utilization, creates enduring value and trust among constituents. As Bhagalpur continues its journey on the path of social advancement, Mandal’s leadership remains a benchmark of efficacy and empathy in public service.