KATHMANDU, JUNE 26
On June 15, the Madhes government presented a budget of 46.98 billion and 33.51 million for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. The red book of the budget presented by the Finance Minister of the Nepali Congress Sunil Kumar Yadav was handed over to lawmakers on Wednesday.
Following the review of the red book, Janamat Chairperson CK Raut took to social media to express his dissatisfaction, claiming that he was also a victim. "Regarding the Madhes government's red book: I am also a victim like you, and the party is always with you," he wrote on Facebook: "The Madhes government's annual programme 2025-26 red book has arrived. Upon closer examination, it appears that we have been deprived of the policies, principles, and vision adopted by the Janamat party."
Chief Minister of the Janamat Party Satish Kumar Singh is leading the Madhes government. On June 15, the Chief Minister Singh-led government presented a budget, however, it has excluded the majority of Janamat plans and policies. Since then, CK Raut has not only complained but also claimed that plans were implemented through middlemen and brokers.
"Most of the plans that the Janamat Party demanded among the people have been sidelined, including the Janamat Party's project of pride and visionary programmes," reads his post. "A budget of 2.5-5 million, 20 million, and 40 million has been allocated for programmes proposed by middlemen or other parties, while a budget of 0.5 million has been allocated for Janamat Party-recommended programmes."
Similarly, Janamat spokesperson Dr Sharad Singh Yadav told the Himalayan Times that a secretariat meeting is scheduled for Sunday to discuss and make necessary decisions on all issues, including the government.
"The decision to leave the government has not been made yet," he said. "Our secretariat meeting has been scheduled for Sunday. The rumours that have been circulating since Raut's Facebook status yesterday are natural. The ruling party presented its vision and development plans. But Janamat's expectations from the government regarding the upcoming budget have been dashed."
He also stated, "That visionary budget should have arrived, but it did not. Even though the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Physical Planning are not with Janamat, the entire government is led by Janamat. If we fail to do our jobs, the public and party will suffer. These are the issues that the party president and we intend to discuss and implement any changes that may be necessary."
Meanwhile, five opposition parties-CPN-MC, CPN (US), Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and Nepal Federal Socialist Party-have agreed not to attend the Madhes Provincial Assembly meeting, claiming that the budget has been kept in the Red Book for the benefit of brokers and middlemen, according to Yubaraj Bhattarai, a CPN-MC provincial lawmaker.
According to him, the opposition front meeting on Thursday concluded that middlemen had derailed the budget. "The opposition front has therefore chosen not to take part in any budgetary discussions."
