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The Praja Foundation report also highlights a brighter side, with Congress legislators occupying the top three positions in the Mumbai MLA performance rankings
A decline in questions means fewer issues formally enter the legislative record and fewer opportunities arise for the government to respond on the floor of the House. File image/PTI
The performance of Mumbai’s legislators has come under scrutiny, with the latest report card by Praja Foundation pointing to a sharp decline in both the number and quality of questions raised by MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly.
According to the report, the 33 Mumbai MLAs of the 15th Legislative Assembly have put up a concerning collective performance. The assessment covers the period from the Winter Session of 2024 to the Monsoon Session of 2025 and examines the performance of Mumbai MLAs on key parameters, including raising issues of citizens, participation in Assembly proceedings and attendance.
The most striking finding is the fall in the number of questions raised by legislators. While 7,955 questions were asked by MLAs during the corresponding period in the 12th Legislative Assembly, the number fell to just 2,213 in the 15th Assembly. This represents a decline of around 72 per cent.
The report says the decline in the number of questions has also affected the time available for discussions and the quality of issues raised in the House. Questions are among the key tools available to legislators to seek information from the government, highlight problems faced by citizens and hold the executive accountable.
The report underlines that raising citizens’ concerns in the Assembly, seeking answers from the government and participating in legislative proceedings are not merely political functions but part of an MLA’s constitutional responsibility.
However, the report also highlights a brighter side, with Congress legislators occupying the top three positions in the Mumbai MLA performance rankings.
As per the report presented by Praja Foundation, Congress MLA Amin Patel topped the rankings with a score of 82.89 per cent, followed by Aslam Shaikh with 80.58 per cent and Jyoti Gaikwad with 80.30 per cent. All three Congress MLAs scored above 80 per cent in the report card of Mumbai’s 33 legislators. The report credits their performance across multiple parameters, including raising citizens’ issues in the House, asking questions, participating in Assembly proceedings and maintaining attendance.
The findings come at a time when the role of legislators in scrutinising government decisions and ensuring accountability is under increasing focus. A decline in questions means fewer issues formally enter the legislative record and fewer opportunities arise for the government to respond on the floor of the House.
The findings of this report put the spotlight on the quality of legislative scrutiny in Maharashtra. For Mumbai’s MLAs, the issue is not merely how many questions they ask but whether the Assembly is being effectively used to raise citizens’ concerns, seek answers from the government and hold the executive accountable. The sharp fall in questions suggests that this role needs greater attention.
About the Author
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @…Read More
August 26, 2026, 03:12 IST
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