Foreign secy lands in Nepal amid poll uncertainty

Indian foreign secretary Sujatha Singh landed here on Friday for a goodwill visit amid a tussle among Nepali political players on holding the next general elections in November.

Updated on: Sep 15, 2013, 01:00:22 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Indian foreign secretary Sujatha Singh landed here on Friday for a goodwill visit amid a tussle among Nepali political players on holding the next general elections in November.

"I will use the opportunity to review progress in our multi-faceted bilateral partnership," she told media persons during a brief interaction at the Tribhuwan International Airport.

During her two-day trip Singh will meet foreign and home minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire, her counterpart Arjun Bahadur Thapa and other dignitaries and leaders of political parties.

This is Singh's first visit to Nepal since assuming charge last month. She is accompanied by a team of senior external affairs ministry officials.

The visit coincides with a debate among political parties on whether to hold election in November as announced or defer it to March-April as demanded by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist.

The Mohan Baidya-led CPN-M has sought removal of the non-political interim government and holding of a round table conference of parties as pre-conditions to taking part in the election.

India wants polls to be held early to end the long political transition in Nepal and has agreed to provide all logistical support for the same including supply of 764 vehicles at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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