KATHMANDU: Maoist Centre Chairperson and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held a meeting with Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel at his residence in Khumaltar on Tuesday morning.

According to Prachanda’s secretariat, the meeting was centered on budget planning for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Ahead of the budget announcement, Finance Minister Poudel consulted with the main opposition leader,” a member of the secretariat said, adding that no other political topics were discussed during the meeting.

This meeting follows the start of parliamentary discussions on the government’s annual policies and programs for fiscal year 2082/83, which began on Monday. Prachanda had strongly criticized the government’s proposals during the session.

The policies and programs are set to be approved by both houses of the federal parliament on Baisakh 28.