Madhesh Province Assembly Convenes to Discuss Budget Amidst Opposition

Janakpurdham. The Madhesh Province Assembly meeting has been called for 1 PM today to discuss the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84. The meeting has been called keeping in mind the potential for the province to fall into an economic crisis if the budget is not passed, with only five days remaining until the end of the fiscal year.

The Business Advisory Committee meeting held on Saturday decided to convene the assembly meeting on Sunday. A multi-party meeting has also been called for 11 AM before the assembly meeting to resolve the dispute seen with the opposition parties, informed Surendra Mahato, Information Officer of the Province Assembly Secretariat.

Kumar Kant Jha, Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress, stated that an agreement was reached after the Speaker proposed calling the meeting, citing the potential for the province to face an economic crisis if the budget is not passed on time.

The opposition parties have been continuously obstructing the Province Assembly meetings, expressing dissatisfaction with the budget. Due to this, the Province Assembly meeting has not been held since Asar 14.

Madhesh Province has a coalition government of Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), and CPN. The opposition parties have accused the government of bringing a budget that is commission-oriented, chaotic, and focused on the constituencies of ministers and MPs from the ruling party, in the name of controlling the budget through consumer committees.

Saroj Yadav, leader of the Janata Samajwadi Party (Nepal) Parliamentary Party and former Chief Minister, clarified that there is no desire to obstruct the budget, but they have had to protest because the budget includes programs based on 'settlements' worth billions of rupees rather than public development, includes commission-oriented projects, and prioritizes the constituencies of ministers and ruling party MPs.

If an agreement is reached in today's multi-party meeting, the Province Assembly will attempt to discuss and pass the budget.