In a first-of-its-kind governance model, the BJP-led government in Delhi has initiated a unique system that integrates party legislators directly with the executive arm of the administration. Under the new arrangement, six MLAs have been assigned to each of the seven Cabinet ministers in the Delhi government, effectively making them an extension of the ministers’ administrative team.
According to sources, this will help to speed up developmental projects in their constituencies. Additionally, the new initiative will help to bridge the gap between the ministers and party’s MLAs. The MLAs will also help to serve as the eyes and ears of the ministers on the ongoing projects or initiatives taken by the government. A WhatsApp has been created by the minister for their MLAs. MLAs can share details of the projects or proposal for perusal of the minister.
The move is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier initiative of encouraging Members of Parliament to adopt villages for comprehensive development. Besides, most of the MLAs of the ruling BJP party does not have experience of administrative functioning.
The move will also help the MLAs to keep in loop about the ongoing projects of the government.
According to sources, if any MLA needs to get a task done, they bypass the usual government procedures and directly approach the minister assigned to them from the legislative assembly. Regardless of which ministry the work pertains to, it is the responsibility of that minister to ensure the task is completed within the stipulated time.
Sources said once a request is made to the minister for any kind of work, it becomes the responsibility of the minister’s office to prepare a progress report of that work and provide it to the MLA. If the work is stuck on any table, then getting it cleared will also be the responsibility of the minister’s office. It is being claimed that this will help ensure that the work in the region is completed on time.
MLAs will have access not only to the ministers but also to the departments under their charge, ensuring they are held accountable for delivering results in their constituencies. “There is a system in the government and how system work. This model is designed to ensure that every MLA remains actively engaged with governance at the grassroots level,” sources said. “Each minister is now expected to ‘adopt’ a group of MLAs, focusing on resolving constituency-level issues and improving coordination in project execution.”
“This system ensures MLAs can no longer claim lack of access or avoid responsibility when questioned by residents,” said a source. “They now form a direct link from the ground level to the top of the government machinery.”
In addition to deepening the accountability of MLAs, the initiative expands the scope of ministerial responsibility. Ministers will no longer be confined to their departmental portfolios but will be expected to engage with a broad spectrum of public issues raised by their group of MLAs.
“This is a governance model where MLAs and ministers work as a unified team, eliminating inter-departmental confusion and jurisdictional delays, which have long plagued administrative functioning in Delhi,” the source added. “If successful, this experiment could become a milestone in city governance—speeding up development, improving service delivery, and enhancing organizational efficiency.”
A newly elected BJP MLA, speaking on the condition of anonymity, welcomed the move. “Earlier, we had to wait for Vidhan Sabha sessions or seek appointments at the Secretariat to raise issues. Many of us are new and unfamiliar with the workings of the system. This model provides us with a much-needed bridge to better governance.”
