Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday inaugurated the long-closed MLA Lounge at the Delhi Secretariat, calling it a step toward restoring open, functional governance and addressing the disconnect between legislators and administration seen in previous years. The lounge, shut for several years, has been refurbished to serve as a working space for MLAs to meet officials, hold discussions, and raise constituency issues directly within the Secretariat. Equipped with basic infrastructure and meeting space, it is intended to streamline communication between public representatives and the administration. While inaugurating the facility, Chief Minister Gupta criticised the functioning style of the previous government. The earlier regime shut this space down because it discouraged dialogue. It preferred working in isolation, she said. Our aim is to change that approach and open doors - literally and otherwise - to promote better coordination and faster delivery on ground-level issues. The Chief Minister added that in the past, even MLAs had difficulty accessing the Chief Ministers office, and administrative staff and journalists also faced frequent entry restrictions. Now, legislators can walk into the CMs office, and media persons too are treated with more openness, she said, calling the shift symbolic of a broader change in governance culture. According to officials, the lounge has been set up with work tables, waiting areas, and basic amenities, providing a neutral and accessible space for MLAs to engage with departmental officers on development matters. The idea is to make governance more responsive by giving lawmakers a more structured space to interact with the bureaucracy. This isnt just about a building or furniture, Gupta said. This is about making the system more responsive to elected representatives who act as a bridge between Government and people. The move has been welcomed by several legislators, particularly those who have long demanded more working space within the Secretariat to deal with administrative tasks and constituency coordination.

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