India Tuesday 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 Nov 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.
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"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 is 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.
Khurshid said India was committed to extending all possible support to the peace process, institutionalisation of democracy and socio-economic development of Nepal, and will continue in future too.
Regmi, chairman of the Interim Election Council, told Khurshid that the government was determined to hold elections in a free and fair manner, taking all political forces onboard.
Both sides also reviewed joint efforts against floods, including repair and maintenance work at major border rivers.
They also reviewed the progress of the bilateral development partnership programme, which includes large, cross-border connectivity and infrastructure projects, and community and grassroots oriented small development projects in education, health and rural infrastructure.
The infrastructure projects include construction of four integrated check-points for trade promotion and facilitation, 1,450 km of Terai roads and cross-border rail links at five locations.
The two sides also felt the need to continue consultation on promoting trade bilaterally and with other countries for Nepal's economic growth.
They also discussed transit routes, energy banking and power trading, currency conversion facilitation, new routes for increased air connectivity, and strengthening Nepal's capacity for certification of food and agriculture exports by establishing lab facilities along the Nepal-India border, said a statement issued by Nepal's foreign ministry.
Earlier Tuesday, senior officials including Foreign Secretary Durga Prasad Bhattarai and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad welcomed Khurshid at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
"To extend support and cooperation to the elections, I am paying an official and goodwill visit to Nepal. We (India) support the choices made by Nepali people as whatever political system or what kind of constitution they want to set up here," Khurshid said on his arrival.
Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad and Nepal's Finance Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi signed two separate Letters of Exchange (LoEs) at a function organised at the Nepal Prime Minister's Office after Khurshid's meeting with Regmi.
According to the LoEs, India will donate 48 vehicles to Nepal's Elections Commission and the rest 716 vehicles to Nepal Police and Armed Police Force under the ministry of home affairs. These vehicles will cost a total of IRs.500 million, according to Nepal's ministry of foreign affairs.
Khurshid said Nepal was an important partner and reliable friend, and India wanted early conclusion of Nepal's political settlement and marching ahead as a democratic and stable nation.
"Indian is strongly committed to working with the people of Nepal for a democratic, stable, peaceful and prosperous Nepal. Our relations with Nepal are, and will continue to be, a matter of the highest priority for India," Khurshid said in the statement.