UML lawmaker resigns over Sudurpaschim budget
Summary
CPN-UML lawmaker Bir Bahadur Thapa resigned in protest after the Sudurpaschim provincial assembly passed a new budget, exposing deeper rifts inside the ruling coalition. The province faces a projected budget shortfall of about Rs4.57 billion despite Finance Minister Chakra Bahadur Malla presenting a Rs37.696 billion budget.
Key Points
- Bir Bahadur Thapa resigned to Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari after protesting the Sudurpaschim provincial budget.
- The budget had been delayed for three months, and earlier disputes over a June 15 budget helped bring down the previous coalition.
- Another UML lawmaker, Dharmaraj Pathak, stayed away from the budget vote and had previously criticized alleged irregularities.
- Officials said the province’s available resources were only Rs33.13 billion, creating an estimated shortfall of Rs4.57 billion.
