Disagreements among ruling parties in the Far West, budget discussions uncertain

After the UML expressed dissatisfaction by demanding budget revisions in the Far West, questions have been raised not only about the budget discussion but also about the stability of the government.

Ashad 14, 2083

Arjun Shah

Disagreements among ruling parties in the Far West, budget discussions uncertain

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The discussion on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 brought by the Sudurpaschim government has become uncertain. The discussion on the budget in the provincial assembly has been affected after the ruling party UML parliamentary party decided to register an amendment proposal in the budget. There is also talk of power sharing and reshuffle. Story break UML is a partner in the Congress-led government in the Sudurpaschim province. Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah has said that there is still time for the discussion on the budget. But after the ruling party UML itself demanded amendments to the budget, even Chief Minister Shah is confused. Story break The budget for the upcoming fiscal year should be passed by Ashar. 'There has been no discussion on the meeting of the provincial assembly and the discussion on the budget,' said Santosh Kumari Sharma Thapa, deputy leader of the UML parliamentary party. 'There is also dissatisfaction with the budget everywhere.' Our party leaders are also in Kathmandu at this time.'

As the last month of the fiscal year begins, MPs from the thematic committees of the Provincial Assembly are on various trips. According to the Provincial Assembly Secretariat, the Social Development Committee, Economic Development and Natural Resources Committee, Legislation and Provincial Affairs Committee are on trips outside the province. The Public Accounts Committee is also preparing for the trip. 'There is no preparation to hold a meeting for budget-related discussions,' said Provincial Assembly Secretary Dev Bahadur Bogati. 'There is no agreement among the ruling parties. Discussions may be ongoing.'

The UML parliamentary party has demanded amendments, accusing the Congress of monopolizing the budget. The UML has led the ministries of physical infrastructure, land management, agriculture and cooperatives, and internal affairs and law in the Council of Ministers, while the Congress, along with the Chief Minister, has led the ministries of economic affairs, social development, industry, tourism, forest and environment. During the budget preparation, the UML was preparing to leave the government, expressing dissatisfaction with the distribution of funds. But after the UML finally agreed, the Minister for Economic Affairs, Bikram Singh Dhami, who was represented by 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 had been brought for the upcoming fiscal year, the budget statement booklet made public just a day later mentioned 37.7 billion rupees and 39.66 million rupees.

In addition, the opposition party NCP lawmakers have claimed that the appropriation act, financial act, budget statement, expenditure estimate, and medium-term expenditure structure, which the government should submit to the Provincial Assembly Secretariat on the day the budget is presented, have not yet been tabled in the Provincial Assembly.

On the other hand, there is also talk of forming a ruling coalition among the left parties. MPs have said that discussions are also underway on forming a new government with the CPN after the UML-Congress coalition leaves the government. ‘Informal discussions are underway at various stages,’ said CPN parliamentary party leader Khagaraj Bhatta. ‘We have decided to firmly oppose the budget brought by this government as it violates even the basic principles and contains unreasonable programs and budgets, so we have decided to prevent it from being passed.’ If the budget is not passed due to the failure to hold discussions on the budget, moral questions will be raised on the government.

Earlier, in the budget of the fiscal year 081/82, when there was a joint government of the Maoists, UML, and Socialists, the government collapsed after the Minister of Economic Affairs, UML’s Surendra Bahadur Pal, withdrew his support for the budget presented in the provincial assembly before it was passed. That is why the budget in the Far West went into zero for three months.

Arjun

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