Every election season in Kerala feels like a festival of promises.

“Development.”
“Roads.”
“Jobs.”
“Change.”
“People first.”

But once the elections are over, one uncomfortable question quietly disappears from public discussion — and mainstream media rarely brings it up with seriousness:

How much of the MPLADS (MP Fund) money did our MPs actually use for constituency development?

Because if the money is not being used, then all the speeches are just noise.

What is MPLADS and Why It Matters

Under the MPLADS scheme, every Member of Parliament gets a fixed amount of public money every year to recommend development projects in their constituency.

This fund is meant for practical, real-world work such as:

• Road development
• Drinking water supply
• Public toilets and sanitation
• School infrastructure
• Hospital facilities
• Community halls
• Small bridges and public safety projects

This is not charity.
This is not a “bonus.”

This is literally one of the few direct development tools an MP has in hand.

So when MPLADS remains unused, it is not just a statistic. It means:

Your constituency lost development that was already paid for.

The Shocking Truth: Two MPs With Zero MPLADS Utilisation

This is where things get disturbing.

As per the latest available utilisation data, two Kerala MPs are recorded as having 0% utilisation of their MPLADS funds.

1) E. T. Mohammed Basheer (Ponnani)

The record shows zero utilisation.

That means no measurable MPLADS-funded work completed for the people who elected him — no roads, no water projects, no school upgrades, nothing recorded as completed through MPLADS.

If true, it raises a brutal question:

Why should Ponnani voters accept speeches when even the development fund was not used?

Because unused MPLADS is not “saved money.”
It is wasted opportunity.

2) M. K. Raghavan (Kozhikode)

Kozhikode’s MP is also recorded at 0% utilisation.

And this is not a small issue. Kozhikode is a major district with real needs—roads, public facilities, water management, health infrastructure.

When MPLADS money remains unused, the public must ask:

What exactly is the MP doing for the constituency if the constituency fund itself is untouched?

This is not about party politics.
This is about performance.

Vadakara and Shafi Parambil — The “4% Utilisation” Reality

Vadakara is not a silent constituency. It is politically aware, socially active, and vocal.

Shafi Parambil is frequently visible in media and public events. People see him travelling, meeting crowds, running from one place to another.

But according to MPLADS utilisation records, Vadakara has used only about:

4% of the allocated MPLADS funds

Let that sink in.

If an MP has access to crores of development money and uses only 4%, then the constituency is not getting development — it is getting visibility.

Even more troubling is the claim that even within that 4%, the projects are still not clearly visible on the ground, with many works not moving beyond proposal stage.

So Vadakara citizens are left with a bitter question:

If your MP fund usage is near zero, what is the benefit of electing a full-time “TV MP”?

Because people don’t vote to send someone to interviews.
They vote to send someone to Parliament.

And they vote for development.

Vadakara doesn’t need an MP who is always busy.

Vadakara needs an MP who is busy finishing work.

Thrissur and Suresh Gopi — Star Power, But Where Is the Development?

Suresh Gopi is a superstar. Nobody can deny his popularity.

But Parliament is not cinema.

Thrissur did not elect him to play a role. Thrissur elected him to deliver results.

And the MPLADS utilisation record for Thrissur shows a disappointing figure:

Around 5.97% utilisation

That is extremely low.

It suggests that crores meant for Thrissur’s roads, hospitals, and infrastructure are still not being converted into completed projects.

People also raise serious concerns about:

• low Parliament attendance
• limited visible parliamentary interventions
• more focus on public appearances and media presence

The contradiction is obvious.

The public sees reels, photos, travel updates, public meet-ups.

But when it comes to actual measurable constituency development spending, the numbers remain weak.

That creates an impression many citizens are now openly saying:

More time for publicity, less time for Parliament.

A Facebook post cannot repair roads.
A photo with supporters cannot upgrade hospitals.
A reel cannot build a bridge.

Only utilisation and execution can.

The One MP Who Actually Stands Out: John Brittas

Now comes the part the media rarely highlights properly.

Among Kerala MPs, one name stands out in MPLADS utilisation percentage:

John Brittas

The recorded utilisation figure shows he has used approximately:

26.32% of his MPLADS funds

Is 26% perfect? No.
But compared to others sitting at 0%, 4%, and 6%, it is clearly higher.

More importantly, Brittas is also seen as an MP whose presence and voice is often heard in Parliament compared to many others who remain silent.

Even critics say his voice is one of the most active from Kerala, though some opposition voices accuse him of playing a “bridge role” between major political forces.

Whether that accusation is fair or not, one thing is undeniable:

At least the numbers show better utilisation than his peers.

And in governance, numbers matter more than posters.

The Real Villain: Media Silence

This entire MPLADS discussion should have been front-page news.

But it isn’t.

Instead, Kerala media focuses on:

• party drama
• controversies
• viral statements
• personal attacks
• emotional speeches

But they avoid publishing clear MPLADS comparisons because it exposes a harsh truth:

Some MPs look active on screen but inactive on paper.

And paper is where development is measured.

Why Should People Vote for MPs Who Don’t Even Use the Fund?

This is the most painful question.

Why should citizens vote, campaign, fight online, divide families, and worship politicians…

…when some MPs cannot even use the development money already allocated for the people?

If an MP does not utilise MPLADS, it means:

• development delayed
• infrastructure denied
• public needs ignored

This is not political criticism.
This is administrative failure.

Kerala Must Change the Way It Votes

Kerala must stop voting based on:

• party loyalty
• celebrity status
• religious identity
• emotional speeches
• social media popularity

Instead, Kerala must vote based on:

✅ Parliament attendance
✅ MPLADS utilisation
✅ completed development projects
✅ public accountability
✅ measurable constituency impact

Final Thought: Democracy Is Not a Fan Club

Below is a table format  showing Kerala MPs and MPLADS fund utilisation percentage, along with an estimated utilised amount (calculated approximately based on entitlement from June 2024 to Jan 2026).

Note: The utilisation % is based on MPLADS dashboard data reported in public sources (Jan 2026). The utilised amount is an approximate calculation for easy understanding.

Kerala MPs – MPLADS Fund Utilisation (As of Jan 2026)

Rajya Sabha MP Mentioned in Kerala MPLADS Utilisation Data

An MP is not a hero.

An MP is not a superstar.

An MP is a public employee elected to represent citizens.

If they cannot even utilise the MP fund meant for local development, then they are not serving the people.

They are simply enjoying the title.

Kerala does not need MPs who are famous.

Kerala needs MPs who deliver.

Because democracy is not a movie.

And voters are not fans.

They are stakeholders.

And stakeholders deserve results.

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