Dhangadhi, July 20 -- Sudurpashchim Province is grappling with twin crises after the provincial government failed to endorse the budget for the new fiscal year, and Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah lost his majority when the CPN-UML withdrew support from the ruling coalition.

The political uncertainty has fuelled debate over whether Shah should resign or seek a vote of confidence in the Provincial Assembly within the 30-day constitutional deadline. The prolonged deadlock has also raised concerns over how long the province can function without a budget.

The Nepali Congress-led coalition, which included the UML, tabled the budget for the next fiscal year in the Provincial Assembly on June 15 with the backing of ministers from both partie...