UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed party ministers to incorporate in the upcoming budget matters of public concern.

Soon after endorsement of the government’s policies and programmes, preparations for the budget have been expedited. In a meeting on Monday, Dahal instructed the Maoist ministers leave an impression of the party’s policy on the fiscal plan. The first budget after the country embraced federalism should address the issues of state restructuring, said Dahal.

The meeting was also called to ask the party ministers about their preparations to set up the federal structure, said Maoist Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey. The ministers replied that they are busy with designing the budget within the ceiling set by the National Planning Commission. The Maoist concern is said to be about the CPN-UML’s perceived preparations to introduce some populist programmes.

UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said agriculture, health and tourism are their main budget priorities.

Another Maoist priority is providing relief to those injured in the decade-long insurgency and the family members of those who lost their lives. The party is pressing the government to release the funds pledged for conflict victims.

The party earlier expressed its dissatisfaction with the UML-led government over not attaching priority to issues related to the peace process.

Chairman Dahal reportedly directed the party’s ministers to stop Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from monopolising the budget. The Maoists are also said to be pressing the government to introduce some specific programmes in memory of the Maoist leaders who died fighting the state forces.