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.

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.