Far-west budget discussion uncertain amid ruling coalition disagreements

Dhangadhi: The discussion on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083-084 presented by the Far West Provincial Government has become uncertain. Proceedings in the Provincial Assembly have been affected after the parliamentary party of the ruling CPN-UML decided to register an amendment proposal to the budget. This development has also intensified speculation about a possible shift in the province’s power equation.

At present, the government in Far West Province is led by the Nepali Congress, with the UML as a coalition partner. Although Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah stated that there is still time for budget discussions, the future of the government appears uncertain due to dissatisfaction within the UML. Despite the constitutional requirement to pass the budget within the month of Ashar, discussions have not commenced in the Provincial Assembly even 15 days after the budget was presented.

The Provincial Assembly Secretariat has stated that no decision has been made regarding convening the assembly session. According to the Secretariat, members of the Social Development Committee and the Economic Development and Natural Resources Committee are currently on visits, while other provincial assembly members are also reported to be in Kathmandu. Santosh Kumari Sharma Thapa, deputy leader of the UML parliamentary party, said she has not received any information about the assembly meeting or budget discussions. The UML parliamentary party has already decided to register amendments and has made it clear that the budget cannot be passed in its current form.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has stated that the Chief Minister is engaged in discussions with the UML regarding the budget. Chief Whip Saraswati Khadka said that budget discussions in the Provincial Assembly are expected to begin on Ashad 18 or 20. “The Chief Minister is currently holding discussions with the UML. The budget will be discussed in the Provincial Assembly from Ashad 18 or 20,” she said.

With the final month of the fiscal year underway, members of various thematic committees of the Provincial Assembly have departed for official visits. The Secretariat noted that the Social Development Committee, Economic Development and Natural Resources Committee, and Legislation and Provincial Affairs Committee are outside the province, while the Public Accounts Committee is also preparing for a visit. It stated that the lack of consensus among ruling coalition partners has stalled progress on budget discussions.

The UML has been expressing dissatisfaction since the budget preparation stage. Although a last-minute agreement was reached on Ashad 17, after which Minister for Economic Affairs Bikram Singh Dhami presented the budget in the Provincial Assembly at midnight, the UML has decided to register amendments. The party has argued that the budget is incomplete, inconsistent with the principles of the Appropriation Bill, lacks ministry-wise allocations, and violates the criteria for project selection.