Koshi Province Government Faces Pressure to Present Budget Principles and Priorities Amidst Assembly Obstruction

Biratnagar. The Koshi Province government is under pressure to present the principles and priorities of the budget (pre-budget) in the Provincial Assembly 15 days before the budget is due, as per the law. However, the opposition party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), has continued to obstruct the Provincial Assembly since last Tuesday.

The opposition party has been obstructing the session due to dissatisfaction with the procedure adopted by Speaker Ambar Bahadur Bist during the passage of the policy and program. The meeting, which was postponed on May 29 and 30 due to the opposition's uproar and rostrum घेराउ, has been called for June 1.

The government is compelled to ensure the session proceeds on Saturday, June 1, to advance the pre-budget discussion, while the opposition party is adamant about not allowing the session to proceed until its demands are met.

Article 11(1) of the Province Economic Procedures and Financial Accountability Act, 2074, states that 'the Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning shall present the principles and priorities of the budget and programs to be included in the Province Appropriation Bill in the Provincial Assembly at least fifteen days prior to the presentation of the Province Appropriation Bill in the Provincial Assembly.'

According to the constitution, the provincial government must present the budget (Appropriation Bill) for the upcoming fiscal year on Asar 1 (mid-June). Considering Asar 1 as the deadline, the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill must be presented in the assembly by mid-May (May 29).

Article 11(2) of the Act provides for a theoretical discussion on the principles and priorities in the Provincial Assembly after their presentation, allowing members of the assembly to offer suggestions.

Based on this legal obligation, the government had prepared to table the proposal for pre-budget discussion on May 29, the same day the policy and program were passed. However, the session was obstructed. Subsequently, the meeting was called again for Wednesday, May 30.

The first agenda item in that meeting was for the Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Bidur Kumar Lingthep, to present the proposal 'Discussion on the Principles and Priorities of the Appropriation Bill for 2083/084 (excluding tax proposals)'. The second agenda item mentioned the commencement of discussion on the proposal. However, due to the opposition's obstruction, Minister Lingthep could not even present the proposal in the assembly.

If the minister fails to present this proposal in the assembly meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 29, the government will be deemed to have violated Article 11(1) of the Province Economic Procedures Act, 2078, which will raise questions about the legality of the government's budget formulation. Sushil Bastola, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, stated that if it cannot be presented on May 29, another policy decision will be necessary.

Why the Dispute?

The incident that occurred in the assembly on Tuesday, May 29, is the main reason. After Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki responded to the questions raised on the policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year 2083-084, Speaker Ambar Bahadur Bist presented it for a decision. Speaker Bist declared the policy and program passed 'unanimously' based on the 'aye' sound from the house through a voice vote. However, the opposition party was not given time to submit amendments to the policy and program.

Taking issue with this, Indra Bahadur Angbo, leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre) parliamentary party, and MP Rajendra Rai, a former chief minister, strongly objected. Rai stated, 'The Speaker should have said it was passed by majority, not unanimously. We asked for 72 hours, and even when compromising, he said it was unanimous, which is a lie. We were going to vote against it and submit amendments.'

Angbo stated that the session cannot proceed if their demands are not met.

Speaker Bist argued that 'the rules do not provide for giving time for amendments.' However, Rule 37 of the Provincial Assembly Rules states that 'amendments can be submitted as the Speaker deems appropriate,' while Rule 38(3) states that 'after decisions are made on the submitted amendments, the Speaker shall present the proposal for a decision in the meeting.'

In parliamentary tradition, there is an established precedent of providing time to submit amendments to important documents like the policy and program. The opposition claims that the Speaker acted like the ruling party by disregarding this.

Before the dispute on May 29 could be resolved, the meeting began on Wednesday, May 30. The agenda was for the Minister of Finance to present the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill. However, as soon as the meeting began, opposition MPs stood up and protested. When Speaker Bist attempted to proceed with the meeting despite the opposition's protest, the situation became tense. Former Chief Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) MP Rajendra Rai aggressively approached the rostrum, attempting to pull and throw the microphone.

When the security personnel (police) stopped him, there was further uproar in the assembly. 'I had to speak from the rostrum, I went there to present my points and speak, but the police did not allow it,' Rai reacted after the incident.

The Speaker adjourned the meeting for half an hour. In the meantime, an all-party meeting of the party leaders was called. However, according to Indra Bahadur Angbo, leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre) party, the Speaker himself did not appear serious about resolving the deadlock. 'A suggestion came from the ruling parties to address the opposition and move forward, but the Speaker himself did not want to open it up,' Angbo said. Ultimately, as no agreement was reached, the parliament was adjourned until Saturday, May 29.

The government must table the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill in the Provincial Assembly meeting to be held on Saturday, May 29, at all costs. The opposition is prepared not to proceed unless the Speaker corrects the record of the previous meeting, where it was stated as passed 'unanimously,' and admits in the assembly that it was passed 'by majority.'

Angbo stated that if the Speaker and the ruling party do not address this minor stance of the opposition before the meeting begins on Saturday, the session will be obstructed again. 'If the Speaker does not accept even our small request, the session will be obstructed. The Speaker will then have to be responsible for the resulting situation,' Angbo said.