Nepali Congress calls for free vote on both budgets amid Sudurpaschim dispute

Dhangadhi: The main opposition Nepali Congress has proposed allowing Provincial Assembly members to vote independently on both budgets to resolve the ongoing budget dispute in Sudurpaschim Province.

The Congress made the proposal after disagreeing with the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s decision to form a parliamentary probe committee to investigate budget-related issues and introduce a supplementary budget by Kartik 15.

Arguing that the agreement reached within the ruling party lacks legal validity, the Congress has demanded an environment in which lawmakers can vote freely on both budgets presented by the provincial government on Asar 1 and Ashwin 25.

The party made its position public at a press conference following escalating differences among the ruling parties over the budget. The Congress had previously decided to boycott Provincial Assembly meetings, arguing that the budget was unsuitable and that the government had failed to coordinate adequately with the opposition.

Kamal Bahadur Shah, leader of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party and immediate past Chief Minister, said the province should not be left without a budget. He argued that since the budget did not appear likely to pass under the existing circumstances, the government itself should create an environment in which lawmakers could vote independently.

The prolonged budget dispute has adversely affected the province’s economic activities and development programs.