India on Sunday reiterated its support for the upcoming general elections in neighbouring Nepal.
Which has been facing political instability since last year’s ‘Gen Z’ protests, as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, in New Delhi.
The meeting, held over dinner late on January 4, focused on the need for early elections as Nepal prepares to go to the polls on March 5. According to sources, Doval underlined that timely elections were crucial to safeguarding Nepal’s democratic system and restoring political stability.
Doval hosted Prachanda, the leader of the Nepal Communist Party, at a New Delhi hotel. The high-level interaction came at a sensitive moment in Nepal’s political transition following the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government in the wake of mass protests led largely by younger voters.
Sources said the discussions centred on the already announced election schedule and the importance of adhering to it. Doval conveyed India’s view that elections were the most effective way to resolve the ongoing political impasse and ensure institutional continuity.
India’s position, as articulated during the meeting, was that the electoral process is not merely procedural but essential for national stability and democratic legitimacy, the sources said. Doval reportedly emphasised that a clear mandate through the ballot box remains the best way to protect Nepal’s democratic framework and that India seeks long-term stability in its neighbourhood.
Prachanda, in turn, assured Doval that there was broad political consensus within Nepal on holding elections. According to the sources, he said major political parties were not opposed to the polls.
He also informed Doval that ahead of his visit to New Delhi, he had held consultations with key domestic stakeholders, including CPN-UML chairperson and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, indicating efforts to align Nepal’s major political forces on the electoral roadmap.
Prachanda attended the meeting along with his daughter, Ganga.
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