Sudurpaschim budget passed amidst boycott by opposition
Sudurpaschim, Oct 13: The Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly passed the budget for the fiscal year 2083/84 by a majority vote today. The vote took place despite a boycott by the main opposition party, the Nepali Congress.
On Sunday, Minister for Economic Affairs Chakra Bahadur Malla had presented a budget worth Rs 37.70 billion before the Provincial Assembly, and it was tabled on the same day. However, assembly proceedings had been disrupted after a dispute flared up prior to the commencement of budget deliberations.
The process moved forward after the ruling party, the Nepal Communist Party, agreed to amend the budget, investigate disputed issues, and introduce a supplementary budget by November 1.
Although the government led by the then Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah had presented the budget on the stipulated date, Asar 1, it could not be passed following a change in the ruling coalition. Subsequently, a new government was formed under the leadership of Khagaraj Bhatta, a leader of the Communist Party of Nepal with the support of the CPN (UML).
After the budget was approved, Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari informed the assembly that the meeting of the Provincial Assembly has been adjourned until further notice.

