Govt unveiling new fiscal year budget today

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 29: Deputy Prime Minister and  Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel will present the budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 at a joint session of the Federal Parliament on Thursday. 

The estimated budget stands at Rs 1.9 trillion, as proposed by the National Planning Commission.

The opposition parties have been obstructing the proceedings, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over his alleged involvement in the visit visa case. The opposition lawmakers have been saying that they will not allow the meeting to proceed until Minister Lekhak resigns and an investigation committee is formed.

However, the opposition parties have indicated a willingness to allow the government to present the annual budget.

“We are open to allowing the government to present the budget in the Federal Parliament on Thursday. However, this depends entirely on the conduct of the ruling parties. Our position remains unchanged, we continue to demand the resignation of the Home Minister,” Hitraj Pandey, Chief Whip of the main opposition party, CPN (Maoist Centre), told The Rising Nepal.

Similarly, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has also stated it will not obstruct the presentation of the budget in the Parliament.

Talking to journalists, acting spokesperson Manish Jha confirmed that the party would allow the budget to proceed. “We will not oppose the presentation of the budget, provided it is brought forward in accordance with the constitutional process,” he said.

The meeting of the House of Representatives scheduled for Wednesday was adjourned until 1:00 pm on Thursday. Constitutionally, the government has to present the budget in the parliament on May 29. Posting a notice, General Secretary of Parliament  Padam Prasad Pandey, informed the session was deferred till Thursday, 1:00 pm.