Sudurpaschim State Government Faces Financial Crisis Amid Political Turmoil

Dhangadhi — The Sudurpaschim state government is grappling with a severe financial crisis, finding itself in a budget vacuum since Shrawan 1.

The lack of financial and appropriation laws has brought the government's income and expenditure to a halt, causing a daily revenue loss of 40 lakh. The government's inefficiency has been exacerbated by this legislative impasse.

The budget, presented to the provincial assembly on Ashar 1, has been directly affected by shifting political alliances at the central level. Over the past one and a half years, the province has witnessed the formation of four different governments.With Chief Minister Sodari now in the minority, the Congress and UML parties are making moves to form the fourth government in this period. Sudurpaschim has 53 MPs, but political instability has seen 26 MPs, including the Chief Minister, serve as ministers across three governments.

In contrast to the first term, where Chief Minister Trilochan Bhatt managed a full five-year term, the current second state assembly has experienced rapid government turnover and ministerial changes. UML leader Rajendrasinh Rawal was appointed Chief Minister on Paush 27, 2079, supported by the Maoist, Nagarik Unmukti, and RPP parties. However, his government fell within a month when Nagarik Unmukti did not pass a vote of confidence.

Congress leader Kamal Bahadur Shah took over on Magh 26 but also struggled to secure a vote of confidence until the Maoist-Congress alliance was formed at the center. Despite this alliance, it took five and a half months to expand the government due to disagreements over ministry divisions.

The political dynamics shifted again on Falgun 23 when the Maoists left the government to form an alliance with UML, causing Chief Minister Shah's government to lose majority support. Shah tried to maintain power with the backing of Nagarik Unmukti, integrated socialists, RPP, and independents by adding ministers from these groups.

However, he resigned on Chaitra 22 after failing to secure a vote of confidence due to ongoing disputes within Nagarik Unmukti. The current government, led by United Socialist Party's Chief Minister Sodari since Baisakh 6, has also fallen into a minority after UML withdrew its support. Despite attempts to expand the cabinet to ten members, the alliance has failed to reach a consensus.

The new political configuration now sees Congress and UML demanding Chief Minister Sodari's resignation. Congress Parliamentary Party leader Shah argues that, given the budget impasse and the government's minority status, Chief Minister Sodari should resign to resolve the financial crisis.

Shah states that it is morally inappropriate for Sodari to remain in office under these conditions. The protracted political instability has severely impacted development projects and legislative processes, with only four bills with amendments passed and certified in the last one and a half years.