India, Nov. 5 -- LUCKNOW The state capital, which secured third rank among the cleanest cities in the country in the million-plus population category in the Swachh Shahar Awards 2024-25 under the Swachh Survekshan, now finds itself battling administrative paralysis. Lucknow's revised municipal budget, which was scheduled to be presented before the executive committee last month, remains undiscussed amid a widening rift between mayor Sushma Kharkwal and municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar.

According to municipal insiders, the revised budget should have been finalised between October 1 and 15 and placed before the executive committee for approval. While the budget document has been prepared, it has not been tabled or deliberated upon due t...