External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a two-day official visit to Nepal from Thursday in an effort to reach out to Nepal’s political leadership ahead of the formation of a new government by a Communist alliance.
Officials of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu and Nepal’s foreign ministry confirmed the visit on Monday. They said a formal announcement will be made on Tuesday. Swaraj will be first senior Indian leader to visit Nepal after the conclusion of elections to local bodies, provincial assemblies and federal parliament.
Swaraj, who will be accompanied by new foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale and joint secretary (north) Sudhakar Dalela of the external affairs ministry, is expected to meet President Bidhya Devi Bhandrai, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML chief KP Sharma Oli, who is widely being seen as the next premier, CPN-Maoist Center leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” and Madhesi leaders.
The post-elections scenario in Nepal and the status of bilateral ties following the victory of the leftist alliance in the polls are expected to figure in Swaraj’s talks with her interlocutors.
Diplomatic sources said Swaraj is coming with a “special political message” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the leaders of the leftist alliance, particularly Oli, who is playing a major role in choosing people to fill key posts in the new provincial and federal governments.
{{/usCountry}}Diplomatic sources said Swaraj is coming with a “special political message” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the leaders of the leftist alliance, particularly Oli, who is playing a major role in choosing people to fill key posts in the new provincial and federal governments.
{{/usCountry}}Swaraj is also expected to communicate that India is ready to work with Nepal’s new government. Her visit will also acknowledge the achievements of Nepalese leaders over the past decade, including the recently held three-tier elections.