Budget uncertain due to political tug-of-war

Due to the continued political tug-of-war, annual budget is going to suffer for the third consecutive yesr this time after the election of Constitutuent Assembly election in 2008.
One one hand UCPN-Maoists -- the largest party in the parliament -- is opposing to the idea of bringing the budget by the incumbent Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government and on the others, partners in government is 'extremly hopeful' that the same government will bring the budget on July 9 -- five days before the current fiscal year ends.
"The government will bring the budget on time," said Bharat Mohan Adhikari, former finance minister from CPN-UML. "Its a compulsion," he said adding that to make the institutional democracy functional, it's necessary to let the government bring the budget through the normal course.
The other faction of the government Nepal Congress (NC), though hopeful of political consensus, is ready to bring the budget through ordinancy, if UCPN-Maoists continue to obstruct the parliament.
"Though, ordinance is not a good option, we will be forced to bring the budget through ordinance," said Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, former finance minister from Nepal Congress (NC).
"It would be unfortunate that the political developments have taken over the economy," he added.
However, the UCPN-Maoist party has threatened to go to street and oppose in the parliament too. "This government has no moral and constitutional right to bring Programme and Policies, and budget both," said Dr Baburam Bhattarai, former finance minister from UCPN-Maoists.
"The Prime Minister has to fulfil a pledge to step down and make way for a national unity government," the Maoist ideologue said.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal agreed on May 28 to resign as part of an 11th-hour deal after marathon round of talks to persuade the UCPN-Maoists to vote for an extension of parliament's term and avert a political crisis.
"The agreement was to pave way for the national consensus government," Dr Bhattarai added.
The parliament was scheduled to begin on June 18 for the pre-budget debate on the government's budget proposals but that has been delayed and the fiscal year is coming to an end on July 16. The Constitution has made an arrangement of pre-budget discussion so the elected members of the CA can air the concerns of their constituenties. But its is unfortunate that this year too, like the earlier years, the pre-budget discussions could not be hold due to political dead-lock.
The parties in government are adament on bringing the budget despite UCPN-Maoists' obstruction. "If the Maoists continue to obstruct, worst-come-worst, a year before's experience will repeat," Dr Mahat said. He had brought a Bill on Accounts then.
However, the Bill could be brought as a means to give legality to administrative expenses for the short-term of four months only and the full-fledged budget has to be brought to replace it. The absence of budget cannot stop the government collect revenue but it cannot spend.