Far-Western Region Chief Minister Assures Budget Passage Amidst Coalition Tensions

Dhangadhi. Amidst the presentation of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 in the Far-Western Region, dissatisfaction within the ruling coalition and speculations about the government's stability are rife. With the ruling coalition partner CPN (UML) threatening to leave the government if the budget is not revised, discussions about the government's collapse are also ongoing. However, Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah claims the government is secure and the budget will be passed by the end of Ashar. Here is a brief conversation focused on these issues:

There is uncertainty regarding the upcoming fiscal year's budget in the Far-Western Region. The common question in public and political circles is - when will this budget be passed?

I take the interest shown in the Far-Western Region's budget positively. As for its passage, the budget will be passed by the end of Ashar. According to our legal and constitutional provisions, the budget must be passed by Ashar 30. We are currently in that process. Discussions will begin in the Provincial Assembly within a few days, and the budget will be passed with the consensus of all parties.

Why is the Far-Western Region always behind other provinces in passing the budget? The budget was also presented late at night while everyone was asleep. Why such secrecy?

Rather than comparing with other provinces, we must look at our own situation. There were some technical complications during the budget presentation. Time was slightly delayed due to the need for intensive discussions within the employee structure and political levels. Presenting the budget at midnight was a compulsion, not a choice. However, it should not be viewed solely negatively just because it was presented at midnight. The main thing is the objective of the budget and its contribution to the region's development.

The budget has arrived, but the ruling coalition partner UML itself is saying this budget will not be passed as is. There are also talks of UML leaving the government and the government collapsing. How are you so confident?

Such discussions are natural in politics. Talk of the government collapsing and new equations forming has been ongoing since I became Chief Minister. But what was the result? We are working successfully. The alliance between UML and Congress is very strong. In a democracy, one has the right to raise issues of disagreement. We have taken UML's suggestions positively. We will sit together, discuss, pass the budget together, and move forward together. The talk of the government collapsing is just a rumor.

You are seen as a fortunate leader to become Chief Minister twice. But why do MPs from the ruling party oppose the budget during your tenure and always keep you under pressure?

I do not feel that anyone is harassing or cornering me. Rather, all the honorable members are showing affection and support. Whether from the ruling party or the opposition, the questions they raise are for the development of the province. I do not believe anyone is opposing due to personal animosity. Challenges arise, but turning them into opportunities is the hallmark of political leadership. I view this positively.

A serious allegation is that you used the power of the Chief Minister to allocate a large portion of the budget only to some areas in your constituency, Lamki and Kailali. It is said that the budget reached places that do not even have wards. Isn't this arbitrariness and corruption?

The people of my constituency have elected me. I have a responsibility towards their development. But this does not mean that other areas have been treated unjustly. I have prioritized the overall development of the Far-Western Region. Regarding the budget being allocated to places without wards or errors in the red book, it could be a technical flaw. I have not been able to review the red book completely yet. If there are such errors, we are ready to correct them. Our shared commitment is to advance only necessary plans and correct errors.

What do you want to say to the disgruntled MPs and the public? How will the disputes seen in the budget be resolved?

I urge everyone to be patient. The government will take every suggestion made by the honorable members in the Provincial Assembly seriously. If there are any shortcomings in the budget, they will be corrected during the discussions. We are committed to the development of the entire province, not of any particular individual. The budget will be passed by Ashar and then move into the implementation phase.