39 Tamil Nadu MPs perform below par in Lok Sabha, stay away from debates

CHENNAI: Lok Sabha MPs from Tamil Nadu have recorded a below average performance in the lower House since the current LS tenure started in 2014. With the LS set to meet on Tuesday, an analysis of the state MPs’ performance based on the data collated by PRS Legislative Research shows they are below the national average in attendance as well as in participation in debates.

While the national average for attendance is 80%, debates 63.6% and number of questions raised 267, Tamil Nadu MPs’ average attendance is 78%.Their average in debates is 43.6%. But on an average, they have raised 404 questions.
Among the 39 MPs, PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss has recorded the lowest attendance of 46%. He has participated only in 12 debates and raised only 50 questions. Among the AIADMK MPs, none has touched 90% attendance. Tirupur MP V Sathyabama, with 87% attendance, is the highest from TN. She participated in 119 debates and raised 412 questions.
“I have raised several issues affecting my constituency and most of the questions were on railways. As regards to debates, I have participated in almost all the big issues like jallikattu and NEET, affecting the people of Tamil Nadu,” Sathyabama told TOI. She is a regular to raise issues during the question hour, said Sathyabama.
Among the AIADMK MPs, S R Vijayakumar representing Erode constituency has the worst scorecard with 24 debates and 92 questions. His attendance is 73%.
“Generally, MP’s performance cannot be decided based only on their participation in debates and raising questions as they may have done good work in their constituencies. At the same time, an MP has to be present when the House is in session,” said Association of Democratic Reforms founder Jagdeep Chokkar.
“If an MP’s attendance is less than 50%, it means he or she is not properly representing the people in his constituency,” he said.