Shimla, Feb. 19 -- Addressing the concerns of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said that pending Rs.1.1 crore instalments of MLA local area development funds to be released before March 31. Sukhu, replying to a query by Jogindernagar MLA Prakash Rana during Question Hour, clarified that his government is contemplating as to how much percentage of the MLA Land Area Development (LAD) Fund can be given to the legislators considering the financial situation of the state. "You have provided money to 543 Mahila Mandals from the MLA area development fund despite the limit of 10% . You should have giventhis money for completion of development works," the CM said. He added that two instalments of the MLA LAD fund was released before July 5, 2025. Rana said that if MLAs do not have any powers or grant money to help people, there is no point in being an elected representatives. "Should I not resign if I cannot help the people who have elected me and have expectations from their MLA?" he asked. Sukhu said the 2025-26 Budget duration is still March 31, 2026, and his government would contemplate how to provide MLA Fund to the legislators. "In light of the discontinuation of the RDG, we will sit with the LoP to decide how to provide MLA area development and discretionary funds to the legislators in light of the current financial situation of the state," he said. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said if the CM can disburse Rs.2 crore to Mahila Mandals, why impose a bar on MLAs....