Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has rejected social media claims questioning her utilisation of her Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds, saying that the allegations are based on outdated data available on the government website. She also said she reviewed the same portal for other MPs and found that, in several cases, the number of completed works was listed as zero.

‘I have been a hands-on MP’: Priyanka Chaturvedi

“So, @YTKDIndia has managed to make some accusations about my work based on a screenshot of a ministry website that isn’t updated and has led to many sharing it gleefully to troll,” Chaturvedi wrote on X (formerly Twitter), before adding, “I have been a hands-on MP and have actively used the MPLAD funds, hence I was amused with what the handle accused me of.”

Chaturvedi said she checked the data available on the website for several senior leaders. According to her, apart from Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, the portal showed zero completed works for Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

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“Does this mean they haven’t allocated or utilised their fund? No. It means the website is not updated regularly,” she added.

What has happened?

Chaturvedi came under sharp scrutiny online after an X handle claimed that only three works had been completed during her five-year tenure as an MP.

“Meet Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena. Rajya Sabha MP since 2020. MPLADS allocation: ₹19.61 crore. Expenditure: ~₹54 lakh. Works completed: just 3,” claimed the post on X. 

The post further questioned why only three projects were shown as completed over five years, despite nearly ₹20 crore being available under MPLADS. “Minimal utilisation isn’t a technical lapse, it’s a performance failure. Public money demands answers, not excuses.”

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The post was accompanied by screenshots from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation website and a photograph of Chaturvedi.

According to the screenshot taken from the website of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, which the X user had posted, a total of 74 works were recommended to her, and only three works were marked as complete. 

Another screenshot showed detailed information related to the projects listed as completed.

‘Updating website is not MP’s task,’ Chaturvedi counters

Responding to the allegations, Chaturvedi said, “My X timeline and my works in Mumbai and other parts of the state through my MPLAD funds are well utilised – whether toilet blocks, beautification of wards, public parks, sheds, welfare centres, schools  and several more.”

“Updating the website is not the MP’s task, but that of the nodal office, whom we as MPs coordinate this task is given to and receive approval from. Maybe you should check with them. And yes, do Google for the inaugurations done, and you will have your answer,” she added. 

Chaturvedi added that she is willing to take the team behind the social media handle on site visits to demonstrate the work carried out using her MPLADS funds.