As a new government is elected in Nepal, political analysts are stressing the importance of India-Nepal solid relations. They believe that a good relationship between the two countries will benefit both and bring many positive changes. It is essential that both countries recognize the importance of fostering strong ties and working together to ensure their mutual growth and prosperity.
On Monday, Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” was sworn in as Nepal’s new Prime Minister after he switched sides to join hands with a bitter foe, the former prime minister Kharga Prasad Oli.
“Of course, we have some issues with India, and the style of handling such issues may differ from the previous to the present government,” Acharya says.
“All these issues, including the border problem, need to be resolved through diplomatic channels,” he says.
Prachanda and CPN-UML chair and former prime minister K P Oli, fiercest critics of each other until Saturday, had joined hands for a power-sharing deal on Sunday.
In Kathmandu, Prachanda’s sudden shift of camp to the CPN-UML and the consensus he was able to secure so quickly have taken many by surprise.
The surprise development may not bode well for India-Nepal ties as Prachanda and his main backer Oli have had some run-ins with New Delhi previously over territorial issues.
However, Acharya opines that the new dispensation may not tilt towards China or India in its foreign policy overtures.
“I do not think the new government will tilt towards China or India. Nepal needs to maintain cordial relations with both India and China, and we cannot develop the country by damaging its relations with the southern neighbor,” he said.
Commenting on the new government, senior journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikari said Prachanda’s image as a radical leftist leaves room to suspect that his foreign policy measures may not be helpful in maintaining Nepal’s balanced relationship with its immediate neighbors, India and China.
Senior journalist Mathwar Singh Basnet says the government is tilted towards its northern neighbor.
“The first congratulation to Prachanda came from the Chinese envoy. Moreover, leaders of both the major alliance members — CPN-Maoist Centre and CPN-UML — are from a communist background and do not believe in a democratic system,” he says.
In a sarcastic remark, Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor Balendra Shah says leaders representing three completely different ideologies — “Those who want to reinstate the monarchy, those who abolished the monarchy, and those who wanted to slain the King” — have joined hands to form the new government in Nepal.
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