Kathmandu: India yesterday asked Nepal to conduct elections to the Constituent Assembly in November at any cost by bringing all political parties on board including those who have been opposing the poll process.
Visiting Indian Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid said this during separate meetings with political leaders, including President Ram Baran Yadav and chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi.
“I have come here on a goodwill visit to convey my government’s support to the government of Nepal for the successful conduct of free and fair elections in Nepal in November,” Khurshid said.
Some parties, including a breakaway faction of the CPN (Maoist) headed by Mohan Baidya, and some fringe parties, have decided to boycott the November 19 polls.
Baidya left for China Monday evening, skipping his meeting with Khurshid.
No other leader from Baidya’s party — seen as ultra-radical and often accusing India of meddling in Nepal’s internal affairs and Nepali politics — met Khurshid.
“There is no alternative to elections in democracy,” Khurshid said at a press conference after wrapping up his one-day visit.
“Election is the most important point at this time that we have to look forward to. The Indian donation of 764 vehicles to Nepal is the first step toward this end. We want to convey that India wants to extend every possible support in this regard. If there are other shortcomings, we are ready to support further,” the Indian minister said.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Madhav Ghimire told IANS that 716 vehicles will go to the home ministry and the rest 48 will be given to the Election Commission.
During his nine-hour stay in Nepal, Khurshid met around two dozen political leaders including members of the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and leaders representing the Terai region.
Khurshid met five former prime ministers of Nepal — Baburam Bhattarai, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Jhalanath Khanal, Surya Bhadur Thapa and Lokendra Bahadur Chand — during a luncheon meeting organised by his counterpart Ghimire.
The Indian minister also said he was concerned over demands put forward by the Baidya-led Maoist faction, which has upped its anti-election rhetoric.
However, he said the decision of Baidya’s party to sit for dialogue with the government, and its demand to convene a round-table conference with all parties were encouraging. IANS
