POKHARA: The Gandaki Provincial Assembly witnessed intense and unprecedented discord as lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties heavily criticized the provincial government’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The three-day ministry-wise discussions sparked what observers described as a ‘Mahabharat’ of conflicting interests.
Lawmakers raised serious concerns over the budget’s formulation process, lack of clear priorities, and its lopsided allocations.
Tensions escalated to the point where one lawmaker tore up the budget book in protest and another proposed slashing a ministry’s entire budget to just one rupee.
The most heated exchange emerged during the discussion on the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment. Lawmakers criticized Minister Mitra Lal Basyal for allocating 36 percent of the ministry’s budget—approximately Rs 211.5 million—for the construction of 321 temples, including 60 in his own electoral constituency.
Lawmaker Bikal Sherchan sharply questioned the move, asking, “Are you the Minister for Industry or Minister for Temples?”
Chief Whip of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Kusum Budha Pun, sarcastically remarked, “If allocating Rs 210 million to temples and just Rs 5.6 million to industry will lead to prosperity and job creation, let’s just direct the entire budget to temples.”
Another lawmaker, Parbati Tamang, accused the government of ignoring Buddhist heritage sites and discriminating against religious minorities.
The debate also centered around the role of bureaucrats in the budget-making process.
Ruling party lawmaker Sudhir Paudel alleged that the budget was primarily drafted by secretaries, sidelining elected representatives.
“It’s not the ‘brown coats’ (representatives) but the ‘blue coats’ (bureaucrats) running the show,” he declared from the rostrum.
Supporting this claim, Maoist lawmaker Resham Bahadur Jugjali alleged that Finance Secretary Rajendra Dev Pandey had directed budget allocations, including Rs 530 million to his own rural municipality, Bhanu.
Jugjali went so far as to tear up the budget book during the session, citing consistent neglect of his home district, Myagdi.
Lawmakers also criticized the revival of the controversial ‘MP development fund’ through indirect means.
CPN-UML lawmaker Shyamraj Mahat revealed that the budget includes projects worth Rs 5 million each, based on recommendations from individual lawmakers, despite a Supreme Court ban on such practices.
Meanwhile, proportional representation (PR) lawmakers complained of discrimination, with Kusum Budha Pun humorously suggesting they be seated separately in the Assembly to reflect their unequal treatment.
The unfolding drama in the Provincial Assembly has laid bare the deep cracks in the government’s budget process.
Lawmakers across party lines have questioned the legitimacy of the budget, its fairness, and the overreach of civil servants in policymaking.
With rising dissatisfaction even among ruling party members, the government now faces a serious trust deficit. As the budget heads toward a vote, its passage is likely to be as difficult as ‘chewing iron,’ unless lawmakers’ concerns are addressed.
If bulldozed through without amendments, the budget could have long-term political consequences in Gandaki Province.
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