Bangalore, Aug 20 (TNN): Karnataka has spent just 33% of the total amount under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development ( MPLAD) scheme over the past four years (2009-2013). And interestingly, older politicians seem to be making the most of the scheme.

At least eight of the 28 MPs below 55 years have spent less than 60% of funds allotted. In contrast, senior members, including HD Deve Gowda (Hassan), Mallikarjuna M Kharge (Gulbarga) and D B Chandre Gowda, all crossed the 80% mark. Deve Gowda tops the list from Karnataka and he's among one of the top five MPs in the country to make best use of these funds.

He has spent 93.83% of the total Rs 12.11 crore funds allotted to him

These figures were released by the Union ministry of statistics and programme Implementation and are updated until January 2013.

The youngest MP from in Karnataka - Bellary's J Shantha, 40, spent only 23.78% of funds available and holds the record of lowest spending across the country. Shanta explained: "I couldn't concentrate because of unsavoury political developments in Karnataka. I'll try to make up in the remaining period."

Among the young turks, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa's son and Shimoga MP BY Raghavendra, 43, managed to spend about 91.02% of funds allotted and is ranked second after Deve Gowda. Many of the young MPs who showed a dismal performance are from the BJP, which won 19 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 elections.

Among Union ministers from Karnataka, K H Muniyappa and M Veerappa Moily were big disappointments with their less than 55% spending. This is also true in case of other two seniors -- N Dharam Singh (Bidar) and A H Vishwanath (Mysore).

As far as Bangalore is concerned, PC Mohan, representing Bangalore Central, spent about 43%.

Top five

MP - Constituency -- Amount released -- Amount Spent -- %age spent

H D Deve Gowda - Hassan -- 12.11 -- 11.36 -- 93.83

B Y Raghavendra - Shimoga -- 12.11 -- 11.02 -- 91.02

H D Kumaraswamy -- Bangalore Rural -- 12.11 -- 10.35 -- 85.49

D B Chandre Gowda -- Bangalore North -- 14.61 -- 12.31 --- 84.27

Mallikarjuna M Kharge --- Gulbarga -- 12.11 -- 10.04 -- 82.93

Bottom five

J Shantha - Bellary -- 7.11 -- 1.69 -- 23.78

P C Mohan --- Bangalore Central -- 12.11 -- 5.3 -- 43.78

M Veerappa Moily - Chikkaballapur -- 12.11 -- 6.2 -- 51.21

DV Sadanada Gowda / Jayaprakash Hegde* -- Udupi-Chikmagalur -- 14.61 -- 7.63 -- 52.23

Ramesh C Jigajinagi - Bijapur -- 12.11 -- 6.36 --- 52.53

* Sadananda Gowda resigned after becoming the CM; Hegde won the bypoll

(amount in Rs crore)