Madhesh Province budget debate postponed
Due to lack of quorum and participation, Speaker Ramchandra Mandal suspended the session, citing that many members had not studied the budget red book.
KATHMANDU: The Madhesh Province Assembly has indefinitely postponed the budget discussion scheduled for Thursday at 1 PM.
Although the debate commenced on Wednesday, only two lawmakers—opposition MP Ram Ashish Yadav and ruling party’s Ramita Pradhan—participated.
Due to lack of quorum and participation, Speaker Ramchandra Mandal suspended the session, citing that many members had not studied the budget red book.
Wednesday’s session lasted a mere 23 minutes and 21 seconds.
Prior to the meeting, the Business Advisory Committee had set the agenda through June 22, but the sudden indefinite adjournment drew sharp criticism.
Ram Ashish Yadav, Chief Spokesperson of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), accused the government and the Speaker of acting as mere puppets, and announced his party’s boycott of future budget discussions.
He alleged the budget favored intermediaries over public interests.
Similarly, Kanish Patel, Chief Spokesperson of the CPN Unified Socialist, condemned the Speaker and government for ignoring parliamentary norms and holding the assembly hostage. “The government cannot halt regular sessions; it only has authority to convene and dissolve the assembly,” he stated.
Ahead of upcoming budget debates, major parties including the Maoist Centre, JSP, Unified Socialist, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and Nepal Federal Socialist Party are preparing to boycott proceedings, signaling deepening political deadlock in Madhesh Province.
