Far-Western Province Assembly Meeting Resumes Today for Budget Discussion

Dhangadhi. The Far-Western Province Assembly meeting, which was postponed on Wednesday, is scheduled to convene at 11 AM today. The agenda for the meeting includes a general discussion on the annual revenue and expenditure estimates (budget) for the fiscal year 2083/084.

The meeting, initially called for 4 PM on Wednesday, was postponed by Speaker Bhim Bhandari after no ministers from the government were present. According to Yuvaraj Jaishi, Secretary of the Provincial Assembly Secretariat, the meeting was postponed due to the absence of any ministers from the government's side.

The provincial government tabled the annual budget for the fiscal year 2083/084, presented on Asar 1, only after 23 days in the Provincial Assembly. Following the tabling of the budget, the ruling coalition partner CPN (UML) is preparing to bring an amendment proposal. The UML Parliamentary Party has decided that the budget should not be passed in its current form and has announced that it will register an amendment proposal.

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with the budget persists within the Nepali Congress, which is leading the government. Political pressure has increased on Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah after some MPs and ministers from his own party expressed disagreement with the budget.

To resolve the budget dispute, Nepali Congress General Secretary Pradip Poudel and CPN (UML) leader Dr. Pushpa Kandel reached Dhangadhi on Wednesday and held discussions with their respective party's provincial leaders and MPs. They consulted on the budget dispute, dissatisfaction within the ruling coalition, and future strategies. Discussions are expected to continue today.