Nepal, June 5 -- Although the government has formally scraped the 'Constituency Infrastructure Development Program,' the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has indirectly allocated a budget of over Rs 50 billion to projects benefiting 'MPs and senior leaders' personal interests.

Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, in the budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26, has allocated generous funds not only for lawmakers but also to please power holders ranging from the President and Speaker to other influential political figures in their constituencies and districts.

Although Finance Minister Paudel had announced that projects under Rs 30 million would not be included in the federal budget, smaller-scale, petty projects have still been allocated funds.

Even th...