MPRF row over PP office ends<br/>Budget to come on schedule

KATHMANDU, July 11: The Upendra Yadav-led faction of the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) agreed to allow parliament proceedings on Sunday after the major ruling parties committed to award the faction with the party´s parliamentary party office for which both Yadav faction and the faction led by Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar were laying claim for. [break]

House fails to convene

The Yadav-faction obstructed a meeting of the parliament on Saturday, claiming their authority over the parliamentary party office. Gachchhadar-faction led by Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, had been occupying the office provided by the parliamentary secretariat to MPRF before the party split.

After the obstruction, a meeting attended by the Speaker, top leaders from the ruling CPN-UML, Nepali Congress (NC), both factions of MPRF and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) agreed to arrange a new office for the Gachchhadar-led MPRF.

"Finally, we settled the issue with an agreement that the Yadav-faction will be allowed to use the present office while another office will be availed to Gachchhadar-faction," UML Chief Whip Bhim Acharya told myrepublica.com.

Both factions have claimed themselves as being authentic MPRF and the Election Commission commission is still looking into the matter.

In the parliament meeting on Saturday, lawmakers were scheduled to discuss the government´s annual policy and programs presented by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Thursday.

Speaker Subas Nembang allocated two days -- Saturday and Sunday -- for deliberations on the policy and programs.

After endorsing the policy and programs from the House on Sunday evening, Finance Minister is scheduled to present the annual budget for the new fiscal year on Monday.

Despite the obstruction on Saturday, there will be no change in the schedule of budget presentation, Acharya said.

"We will conclude the discussion on the policy and programs on Sunday itself by making adjustments and shortening the time given to the political parties for the discussion. And the finance minister will present the budget on Monday," he said.

The parliament secretariat had earlier arranged seats in the opposition bench for the lawmakers of the Yadav-led faction after the Gachchhadar faction joined the government.

Saturday´s meeting of the parliament was put off for Sunday by issuing a notice.

thira@myrepublica.com