1 week ago
Congress Leads Mumbai MLA Rankings as Assembly Questions Plunge
Praja Foundation studied how Mumbai’s lawmakers performed in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Congress members took the top three places in the rankings.
Amin Patel came first, followed by Aslam Shaikh and Jyoti Gaikwad.
Two Shiv Sena (UBT) members came fourth and fifth.
The report found that Mumbai MLAs asked 2,213 questions in the latest period.
They had asked 7,955 questions during a comparable period about 15 years earlier.
Questions help lawmakers raise people’s problems and ask the government for answers.
The report also said the Assembly met for fewer days, which may leave less time to discuss public issues.
Praja Foundation’s 2026 report ranked Congress MLAs Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh and Jyoti Gaikwad first, second and third among Mumbai legislators.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs Sunil Prabhu and Manoj Jamsutkar placed fourth and fifth, while BJP’s Ram Kadam ranked 31st.
Mumbai MLAs raised 2,213 questions during the 15th Assembly period, down from 7,955 during the comparable 12th Assembly period.
The report assessed 33 of Mumbai’s 36 MLAs using attendance, participation, citizens’ issues, questions, question quality and criminal-background parameters.
The Maharashtra Assembly held 40 sitting days in the first year of the 15th Assembly, compared with 47 in the 12th and 50 in the 13th.
- Who
- Praja Foundation assessed 33 Mumbai MLAs; Congress MLAs Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh and Jyoti Gaikwad led the rankings.
- What
- The foundation released its 2026 Mumbai MLA Report Card, highlighting party rankings and a roughly 72% decline in Assembly questions.
- Where
- The assessment concerns Mumbai legislators and their work in the Maharashtra Assembly.
- When
- The report was released on August 25, 2026, and covers periods from the Winter Session of 2009 to the Monsoon Session of 2010 and from the Winter Session of 2024 to the Monsoon Session of 2025.
- Why
- The report evaluated legislative performance and raised concerns about declining questions, participation and opportunities for scrutiny.
Performance strengths
Legislative concerns
Individual rankings
Performance strengths
Praja Foundation’s assessment placed Congress MLAs Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh and Jyoti Gaikwad in Mumbai’s top three positions, with Shiv Sena (UBT) members taking fourth and fifth.
Legislative concerns
The report also identified significant gaps in the collective legislative performance of Mumbai’s MLAs.
Assembly questions
Performance strengths
The report recognized that some legislators used the Assembly to raise citizens’ issues, ask questions and participate in proceedings.
Legislative concerns
The number of questions fell from 7,955 in the comparable 12th Assembly period to 2,213 in the comparable 15th Assembly period, a decline of about 72%.
Legislative scrutiny
Performance strengths
Assembly questions and participation provide formal ways for legislators to seek government information and represent public concerns.
Legislative concerns
Praja Foundation said fewer questions and fewer sitting days reduce opportunities for government accountability and discussion of public issues.
Key facts
- Top-ranked MLA
- Amin Patel of Mumbadevi, with a score of 82.89
- Second-ranked MLA
- Aslam Shaikh of Malad, with a score of 80.58
- Third-ranked MLA
- Jyoti Gaikwad of Dharavi, with a score of 80.30
- Questions in comparable 12th Assembly period
- Mumbai MLAs raised 7,955 questions from the Winter Session of 2009 to the Monsoon Session of 2010.
- Questions in comparable 15th Assembly period
- Mumbai MLAs raised 2,213 questions from the Winter Session of 2024 to the Monsoon Session of 2025.
- MLAs assessed
- 33 of Mumbai’s 36 MLAs were ranked.
- Assembly sitting days
- The first year of the 15th Assembly had 40 sitting days, compared with 47 in the 12th and 50 in the 13th Assemblies.
Quotes
Milind Mhaske
CEO of Praja Foundation
“An MLA’s performance ultimately comes down to one fundamental question: are citizens’ concerns being effectively raised on the floor of the House? While some MLAs are making strong use of the Assembly as a platform for representation and deliberation, our findings also reveal significant gaps in legislative performance.”
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