Dhangadhi, October 12
A dispute has erupted within the ruling parties over the budget for the current fiscal year 2026/27, which the Sudurpaschim Province government brought in after about two months’ delay.
On Sunday, Minister for Economic Affairs Chakra Bahadur Malla presented a budget of Rs 37.70 billion in the provincial assembly. A meeting had been called for 8 am on Monday to discuss the budget, but it has been postponed until Tuesday as dissatisfaction over the budget grew within the ruling parties themselves.
The provincial assembly secretariat said the meeting has been called for 9 am on Tuesday. The dispute escalated after lawmakers from the ruling parties alleged that the budget had been brought amid a “commission game” through middlemen.
The problem arose after lawmakers of the CPN-UML and the NCP themselves warned they would not help pass the budget. Even ministers in the government appear dissatisfied with the budget.
Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta, Minister for Economic Affairs Malla and Economic Affairs Secretary Rajendra Hamal have been accused of acting unilaterally on the budget. As the dispute over the budget intensified, Chief Minister Bhatta has called ministers for discussions.
