The provincial assembly itself has become 'hostage' due to the dissatisfaction of ruling party MPs over the budget and programs presented by the provincial government for 2083/084. Contrary to the tradition of discussing the budget immediately after the budget was made public on Asad 1, even after two weeks, the debate on the budget has not started in Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini and Koshi provinces. 

There has been obstruction from ruling party MPs in all these four provinces. As of Tuesday, there is no decision on when the discussion on the budget will begin in these provinces. In Madhesh province, preparations are underway to start discussing the budget from Wednesday. Discussions on the budget for the coming year are ongoing in Bagmati. The budget of Gandaki has been passed by a majority. The Bagmati government had presented a budget of 66.93 billion 33.33 million rupees for 2083/084. The provincial assembly premises in Sudurpaschim have been deserted for two weeks due to the lack of agreement among the ruling parties on the budget. UML is a ruling partner in the Congress-led government. The discussion has become uncertain after the UML rejected the budget brought by itself and took a stand to register an amendment proposal. Even Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah is confused after the UML demanded amendments to the budget. 

Chief Minister Shah admits that there are technical errors in the budget. He says that internal discussions are underway with the UML leader on how to correct those errors. According to the UML MP, there has been no dialogue between the Chief Minister and the UML MP in this regard. ‘There is still time for discussion,’ he said, ‘We will pass it within Asar.’

UML Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader Santosh Kumari Sharma Thapa said that there has been no initiative regarding the Provincial Assembly meeting and the discussion on the budget. ‘There is dissatisfaction with the budget everywhere,’ she said, ‘Our party leaders are also in Kathmandu right now.’ 

With the beginning of Asar, MPs from the thematic committees of the Provincial Assembly are on various trips. According to the Provincial Assembly Secretariat, MPs from the Social Development Committee, Economic Development and Natural Resources Committee, and Legislation and Provincial Affairs Committee are on trips outside the province, the secretariat said. The Public Accounts Committee is preparing for the visit. 

‘There is no preparation to hold the meeting,’ said Provincial Assembly Secretary Dev Bahadur Bogati, ‘There is no agreement among the ruling parties.’ The UML parliamentary party has expressed its disagreement with the demand for amendments, accusing the Congress of monopolizing the budget. In the Council of Ministers, the UML leads the ministries of physical infrastructure, land management, agriculture and cooperatives, and internal affairs and law. The Congress, along with the Chief Minister, leads the ministries of economic affairs, social development and industry, tourism, forests and environment. 

The UML had also prepared to leave the government, expressing dissatisfaction with the division of funds during the budget preparation. However, after the UML finally agreed, the Minister for Economic Affairs, Bikram Singh Dhami, who represented the Congress, presented the budget in the Provincial Assembly at midnight on Asad 1.

The UML had decided to register an amendment proposal, saying that the budget was incomplete, contrary to the principles of the appropriation bill, ministry-specific appropriations were not included, and the plan selection criteria were violated. Although Minister Dhami mentioned that a total budget of 37.7 billion rupees has been brought, the budget statement booklet made public just a day later mentions 37.7 billion rupees and 39.66 million rupees. Opposition party NCP lawmakers have claimed that the appropriation act, financial act, budget statement, expenditure budget, and medium-term expenditure structure, which should be submitted to the provincial assembly secretariat on the day the government presents the budget, have not yet been tabled in the provincial assembly. 

On the other hand, there is talk of forming a ruling coalition among the left parties. Discussions are underway to form a government with the NCP through a new understanding after leaving the UML-Congress coalition government. ‘Informal discussions are underway at various stages,’ said NCP parliamentary party leader Khagaraj Bhatta, ‘We have decided to firmly oppose the budget brought by the government as it violates the basic principles and contains unreasonable programs and budgets.’

If discussions on the budget cannot be held, moral questions will be raised against the government. Earlier, when the budget for the fiscal year 081/82 was brought, there was a joint government of the then Maoists, UML, and Unified Socialists. At that time, Economic Affairs Minister Surendra Bahadur Pal of UML had presented the budget in the provincial assembly, but the government collapsed after UML withdrew its support before the budget was passed. The discontent within the ruling party in Koshi Province over the budget has raised questions about parliamentary practice.

The political circle in Koshi Province is also in turmoil after lawmakers from the ruling party protested against the budget presented by their own government and threatened to obstruct the parliament. The provincial assembly meeting was adjourned on Thursday due to this discontent. After Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Bidur Lingthep unveiled the budget of Rs 40.44 billion and 9.8 million, the ruling Congress and UML lawmakers have been accusing the budget of being unbalanced, access-oriented and focused on certain sectors and individuals. They are pressuring to 'redress the balance'. 

In the parliamentary system, there is a heated debate on whether or not a budget that has been presented in parliament can be amended or not. According to parliamentary affairs experts, there is no practice of amending it fundamentally once the budget has become the property of parliament. There is only a provision to pass or reject the budget. Former minister and UML MP Rewatiraman Bhandari said that even if the budget amendment is not possible through the parliament, the demands of the dissatisfied parties can be addressed through financial transfers by canceling some schemes through a decision of the Council of Ministers. According to him, a similar practice has been done in the past. 

‘Budget amendment is no longer possible, but the Council of Ministers can cancel some schemes deemed necessary and return the money to the consolidated fund and redistribute it through financial transfers,’ Bhandari said. MPs dissatisfied with the budget have claimed that they are not in favor of toppling the government but are trying to balance the budget. 

Congress MP and Finance Committee Chairman Binod Bantawa Rai alleged that there were serious flaws in the budget preparation process and said that an inclusive and balanced budget is necessary. Ruling MPs have also launched a signature campaign expressing their dissatisfaction with the budget. Congress Deputy Leader Himal Karki has claimed that 27 MPs have already signed. 

However, government ministers argue that it is against parliamentary values ​​and norms for MPs from their own party to stand against the budget. According to them, if there is a situation where the party whip is violated on a sensitive issue like the budget, it can lead to a political crisis. Opposition party leader Indra Bahadur Angbo has also said that amending the budget is not an easy issue and has expressed the opinion that the dissatisfied parties can be addressed through financial transfer.

Meeting in Lumbini uncertain

The discussion on the budget in Lumbini has become uncertain. A possible agenda was set to start the discussion on the budget from Wednesday. However, it was postponed again at the last minute on Tuesday. The Provincial Assembly Secretariat, after discussions with the government, had set a possible agenda from the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee to convene the 11th meeting of the eighth session on Wednesday. 

However, after disgruntled Provincial Assembly members from Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya's party, UML, did not participate in the discussion on the budget and did not give up their stance on opposing the meeting, the meeting scheduled for Wednesday became uncertain again. Stating that there are serious flaws in the budget, the ruling UML provincial assembly members have been taking a stand against passing the budget. 

After the ruling party provincial assembly members did not allow discussion on the budget, Speaker Tularam Gharti Magar adjourned the provincial assembly meeting until further notice on July 11. The NC provincial assembly members, who are dissatisfied with the budget, have accepted the shortcomings seen in the budget in the parliamentary party meeting and agreed to pass the budget after discussing it. After the NC made the decision, Speaker Gharti had called the 11th meeting of the eighth session of the provincial assembly for 1 pm on Wednesday at the request of the government. However, that too has been postponed, said Durlabh Kumar Pun, secretary of the provincial assembly. 

The meeting of the Provincial Assembly's Business Advisory Committee called for Wednesday will hold a theoretical discussion on the annual estimate of the government's revenue and expenditure presented by Provincial Economic Affairs Minister Dhanendra Karki, and the possible agenda will be for Economic Affairs Minister Karki to respond to the questions raised in the discussion, present the appropriation bill, and Social Development Minister Janmajya Timilsina to submit a proposal to send the 'Bill related to the customs and traditions of the Tharu community' to the committee, Secretary Pun said. 

'However, the notice of postponement of the meeting has been given,' he said, 'The decision of the next meeting will probably be taken on Thursday or Friday.' Earlier, the meetings called continuously from Asad 8 to 11 were postponed. 

The Lumbini Provincial Government had made public a budget of Rs 37.38 billion on Asad 1. In the government's budget, a budget ceiling of Rs 40 million was provided for directly elected Provincial Assembly members from Lumbini's 52 constituencies and Rs 20 million for proportional Provincial Assembly members. 

NCP MP from Bardiya Narmaya Dhakal said that out of 11 plans worth Rs 20 million, only about Rs 10 million worth of physical infrastructure were included, leaving others missing. According to her, out of the 40 million plans of the provincial Social Development Minister Janmajya Timilsina, only one plan worth Rs 20 million was included, leaving a total of Rs 38 million missing. 

Similarly, many plans of Bardiya's Rajkumar Chaudhary and Bhavneshwor Chaudhary have also been missed. Janamorcha's Tara Thapa has also missed a plan worth Rs 20 million for physical infrastructure development in Bardiya from the 20 million budget ceiling. Although the minister said that the missing was due to a technical error, she accused many plans in the same district of being deliberately missed. Minister for Economic Affairs Karki and Chief Minister Acharya are discussing with the disgruntled UML provincial assembly members to accept the shortcomings of the budget and move forward by correcting them. 

After the parliamentary party meeting on Monday failed to reach an agreement, an attempt was made to resolve the issue by holding a parliamentary party board meeting on Tuesday, UML Chief Whip Yumna Roka said that an attempt was made to resolve the issue by holding a parliamentary party board meeting on Tuesday. Basanti Neupane, a member of the UML Provincial Assembly, had been leading the disgruntled members. UML Provincial Assembly member Dinesh Panthi said that the parliamentary party board meeting also ended without a conclusion. Chief Minister Acharya had left the meeting by directing that there was no alternative to passing the budget. NCP MP Indrajit Tharu said that most of the people are demanding that the budget be corrected and rewritten as it is unbalanced and does not match the principles and priorities of the province's periodic plan, policies and programs, and budget. 

Preparations to begin 'discussion' in Madhesh after 17 days 

Preparations are underway to begin discussions in the Provincial Assembly from Wednesday, 17 days after the Madhesh government made the budget public. The Provincial Assembly Secretariat has called a meeting of the Provincial Assembly on Wednesday afternoon. The provincial government has brought a budget of 41.13 billion 8.6 million rupees. Finance Minister Yubaraj Bhattarai presented the income and expenditure of the upcoming fiscal year in the Provincial Assembly meeting held on Asad 1. 

In the Provincial Assembly meeting held on the same day, Finance Minister Bhattarai tabled the estimated revenue and income budget for the fiscal year 083-084 in the assembly and presented the financial bill. Madhesh Province Speaker Ram Ashish Yadav requested to get the estimated revenue and income budget from the 'pigeon hole' or 'website' and the next meeting of the adjourned Provincial Assembly has been called for Wednesday. 

The Provincial Assembly Secretariat had sent an SMS saying that the meeting had been called for the afternoon of Ashad 12 to discuss the budget. Immediately, the Secretariat sent another SMS informing that the meeting would be held on Saturday, Ashad 13 at 1 pm. According to the Provincial Assembly Secretariat, although the Provincial Assembly meeting was called on Ashad 12 and later on 13 as per the business given by the government, the meeting was postponed at the request of the government. 

The Red Book (Ministerial Development Plan and Budget) for the fiscal year 083-084 has been made available to the Provincial Assembly members on 'WhatsApp'. Madhesh Province Finance Minister Bhattarai said that the budget could not be discussed on time because the lawmakers were active in their inter-provincial trips and their respective party activities. 

‘Despite the delay, the discussion on the budget is starting in the provincial assembly meeting,’ he said, ‘We wanted the discussion on the budget to take place from Ashad 4-5, but the delay was due to the busy schedule of the lawmakers in the meantime.’ 

JSP Nepal lawmaker Upendra Mahato accused the government of deliberately delaying the discussion on the budget to cover up its weaknesses and mistakes. ‘The faster the discussion was, the more questions and answers were asked on the ministry-wise plans and budget,’ he said, ‘Now the government’s intention is to pass the budget through a single and hasty discussion. There are many errors and irregularities in the ministry-wise budget. There should be a detailed discussion on everything.’

Budget stalled, Karnali Parliament meeting ends with accusations 

Last Thursday, the main opposition party, the NCP, obstructed the Karnali Provincial Assembly meeting. The NCP had blocked the parliament meeting, saying that the budget had been selected haphazardly. Since then, the parliament meeting has been blocked and held. The provincial assembly meeting has been postponed on Tuesday as well after opposition parties protested. The provincial assembly secretariat had planned to pass the budget on Tuesday. 

The Karnali government has brought a budget of 35.39 billion 85.48 million rupees. The provincial assembly secretariat has now announced that the meeting will be held from 1 pm on Wednesday. ‘Discussions on the budget are being affected due to the opposition’s protests,’ said Netra Bahadur Karki, spokesperson for the provincial assembly secretariat. ‘There is a process of being postponed and resumed, but efforts to reach an agreement could not be made on Tuesday either.’ According to him, no discussions have been held on the budget for the ministries. 

Since the budget was brought on Asad 1, the Karnali provincial assembly has met for only 5 days. According to spokesperson Karki, although meetings were held on Asad 4 and 5, there was not much discussion. Since then, meetings were held on Asad 12, 13 and 14. But the meeting ended amid opposition protests, according to the provincial assembly secretariat. 

Every year, there has been a rift between the ruling party and the opposition in the Karnali provincial assembly during the budget. Last year, the budget was passed by a majority amid opposition protests, while the previous year, the budget was presented and passed amid opposition slogans. ‘Regardless of who is in power or who is in opposition, the budget is always being passed in the same way,’ says advocate Durga Prasad Sapkota. ‘This time, there should be serious discussions on the budget, appropriation, and financial bills and unanimous approval.’ He said that there were problems in budget implementation due to parliamentary tussles during the budget. 

NCP parliamentary party leader Mangal Bahadur Shahi said that they disagreed with the ruling party because they were trying to move forward by scolding the opposition and passing wrong things under the guise of a majority. UML Chief Whip Tekraj Pachai accused the opposition party of trying to create a rift. ‘The opposition’s intention to say that everything was right when they were in power but everything was wrong when others were in power was seen,’ he said, ‘We tried to pass the budget with consensus, but the problem arose because of the opposition.’ 

Passed by majority in Gandaki

The Gandaki Provincial Assembly has passed the government’s budget of Rs 32.99 billion for 2083/84 with a majority. The budget was passed on Sunday after a long discussion and ministry-level responses to the appropriation and finance bill presented by Economic Affairs Minister Jit Bahadur Sherchan on Ashar 1. 

Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, Economic Affairs Minister Sherchan, and Physical Infrastructure Minister Govinda Bahadur Nepali answered the questions raised by the lawmakers in the meeting. Chief Minister Pandey informed that an additional budget of about Rs 1 billion has been arranged to provide dearness allowance to contract employees of the province from next year as per the decision of the federal government. The proposal to cut expenses by NCP MPs Damayanti Ruchal and Kusum Budha was rejected by a majority in the meeting.