The opposition party, the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), has already urged Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah to resign to pave the way for the formation of a new government. He says he is hoping for a solution to emerge from political discussions at the center.
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After the budget presented in the provincial assembly failed to pass and was inactive, on the one hand, the Sudurpaschim provincial government is in a state of budget vacuum, and on the other hand, Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah is in a minority after the ruling party UML withdrew its support. In such a situation, will Chief Minister Shah resign or will he choose the path of a vote of confidence in the provincial assembly using the 30-day facility provided by the constitution? Also, how long will this province be able to get out of the budget vacuum? This is the question that is currently being discussed in the Sudurpaschim.
The Congress-led coalition government, which is in partnership with UML, presented the budget for the fiscal year 083/84 in the provincial assembly on 1 Ashar with the agreement of the ministers of both parties. But the UML rejected the budget and registered a proposal in the provincial assembly to reduce the expenditure of all six ministries and maintain it at only one rupee, thus breaking the cooperation between the two parties.
In response, on 1 Ashar, Chief Minister Shah dismissed 4 UML ministers, including a minister of state, who were in the government. After its ministers were removed, the UML also withdrew its support from the government. After Chief Minister Shah fell into a minority, the opposition Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has urged Chief Minister Shah to resign immediately and pave the way for the formation of a new government.
However, Chief Minister Shah is not in the mood to leave office immediately. He says that he is currently hoping for some solution to emerge from the political discussions taking place at the center. ‘There is no need to make any decision in a hurry. The constitution has given 30 days,’ said Chief Minister Shah. ‘Discussions are underway among top leaders at the center. I think some solution will emerge.’
If a no-confidence motion is filed against the Chief Minister or if a partner party withdraws support, there is a constitutional provision to seek a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly within 30 days. ‘As far as I am considering a vote of confidence test from the provincial assembly as per the constitutional provision rather than resignation,’ said Chief Minister Shah. ‘Talks and discussions are also ongoing with various parties in the province.’
Earlier, the Congress-led government had 18 provincial MPs from the Congress and 11 from the UML. The 53-member Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly needs 27 MPs for a majority. The NCP has become the decisive party in the absence of the cooperation between the Congress and the UML. With 20 (excluding the Speaker and one suspended) MPs, the NCP is the largest party in the Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly. There is one RPP MP in the Provincial Assembly, while the post of one provincial MP is vacant.
At least two of the NCP, the Congress and the UML will have to come together to form a new government. Congress President Gagan Thapa has publicly said that all three parties will not agree to form a government in the province. After the cooperation with the UML broke down, Chief Minister Shah has sought the support of the NCP. But the NCP has demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister. ‘Since we are in a minority, our parliamentary party has decided that Chief Minister Shah should resign to pave the way,’ said NCP parliamentary party leader Khagraj Bhatta, ‘We have already decided to take the initiative to form a government under our own leadership.’
Similarly, with political instability, the budget of the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government is empty. The provincial government has been facing a budget deficit since 1st Shrawan due to the government's failure to take any initiative regarding alternative measures till the last day of the fiscal year 082/83. This is the second time that Sudurpaschim has faced a budget deficit. Earlier, in 081/82, there was a budget deficit for three months due to political wrangling.
No body of the provincial government will be allowed to spend in the budget deficit situation. Chief Minister Shah says that discussions are also underway on whether to bring a PESKI budget through an ordinance. He says that the government will have the right to bring a bill to collect revenue, current and administrative expenses under the PESKI budget. Although the government's spending will be blocked due to the budget deficit, revenue collection and service delivery will not be stopped. The government will be able to collect revenue according to the Timely Revenue Collection Act 2081, which will be activated in the absence of a financial act.
UML Chief Whip Chakra Bahadur Malla accused the current Chief Minister of being entirely responsible for the budget deficit situation. "The Chief Minister did not take any initiative throughout the month of Ashar, we had already decided not to pass the budget as soon as it was presented," he said. "If the Chief Minister had taken the initiative, we could have reconsidered the common problems of the province."
Civil society leaders have commented that the provincial government's budget has repeatedly gone to zero, which is the extent of the irresponsibility of the provincial government administrators. "This provincial government has not improved, the leaders have made the province like a toy," said Pramod Pathak, a civic leader from Dhangadhi. "Only unrest is heard everywhere. At the same time, questions have been raised about the legitimacy of the provincial government since it has not even been able to bring the budget on time."
