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🇳🇵 Nepal /Economy & Trade

Sudurpaschim assembly spends Rs140 million but passes no bills and budget

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Sudurpashchim Provincial Assembly in Nepal spent Rs140.2 million in the fiscal year 2025-26 but failed to pass any full bills or the annual budget.
  • Only two amendment bills were approved, while nine other bills, including two full ones, remain under consideration.
  • Assembly members and officials cited power struggles, poor coordination between the executive and assembly, and ineffective committees as reasons for the legislative deadlock.

The Sudurpashchim Provincial Assembly in Nepal has spent a significant Rs140.2 million in the fiscal year 2025-26, yet it failed to pass a single full bill or approve its annual budget, plunging the province into a financial crisis. The assembly secretariat registered two full bills and three amendment bills, but only managed to pass the two amendments.

Not a single full bill could be passed.

— Yubaraj JaisiInformation officer at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat, commenting on the legislative output.

Information officer Yubaraj Jaisi noted that nine bills, including two full ones from the previous fiscal year, are still pending. Speaker Bhim Bahadur Bhandari highlighted that the assembly held 30 meetings across three sessions, but irregular functioning hampered the lawmaking process. Assembly members from the Nepali Congress and the Nepali Communist Party pointed to power struggles and a lack of priority for lawmaking by both the provincial government and the assembly.

"Recent sessions have been affected by struggles for power. Various bills are stuck in committees, and bills already tabled have not moved through discussions quickly," said Meghraj Khadka, an assembly member. Shiva Singh Oli blamed poor coordination, stating, "A tradition has developed in which the government does not take seriously even the issues raised by assembly members." He added that committees have also failed to connect with the public.

Recent sessions have been affected by struggles for power. Various bills are stuck in committees, and bills already tabled have not moved through discussions quickly.

— Meghraj KhadkaAn assembly member elected from the Nepali Congress, explaining the reasons for legislative inaction.

The financial paralysis stems from a dispute between the Nepali Congress-led government and its coalition partner, the CPN-UML, over the budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The UML rejected the budget, leading Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah to dismiss four UML ministers. The party subsequently withdrew its support, leaving the government in a precarious position.

A tradition has developed in which the government does not take seriously even the issues raised by assembly members. The committees have also failed to become effective or connect with the public.

— Shiva Singh OliA Nepali Communist Party member, criticizing the coordination between the executive and assembly.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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