New Delhi, March 16
Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minsiter is currently in the Indian capital to take part in an event organised by the India Foundation, a thinktan believed to be close to the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP. While Nidhi’s official purpose of the visit is to address a conference on fighting terrorism, his unofficial one is to meet India’s top political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
If Nidhi were to stick to the official purpose of his visit, it would have been over within 24 hours. However, that he has stayed for a few days also indicates the bigger purpose of his visit. He may not admit it, but the ruling alliance sent him to New Delhi to feel the pulse of India’s establishment.
Nidhi’s visit to the southern neighbour comes as major political parties prepare to switch to campaigning mode for the upcoming civic elections, and the Madeshi parties to agitation mode demanding an amendment to the constitution. Analysts say that what transpires during Nidhi’s visit will have a bearing on the fate of the civic elections scheduled for May 14.
Nidhi met former Prime and INC leader Minister Manmohan Singh even before the conference. Similarly, he discussed Nepal’s civic elections with Nationalist Congress DP Tripathi, considered an old Nepal hand in New Delhi. On Wednesday, he met Doval, who is considered one of the main architects of Modi’s Nepal policy. Analysts believe that the meeting with Doval was the most important of all, and all of the other exchanges that will follow are a mere formality.
Sources in the know of the turn of events back home believe that Prachanda sent Nidhi, who had long political discussions with the Morcha before the visit, to New Delhi to understand India’s stance on the issue of constitution amendment and election.
“Prachanda informed India through Narayan Kaji of his intentions to hold elections, and he received a positive signal from New Delhi. But now he is not sure what India’s position is,” an aide to Prachanda told Onlinekhabar.
Prachanda believed that the Madheshi Morcha would not withdraw support to his government so fast. His understanding was that New Delhi backs his government, and as long as it continues to do so, the Morcha cannot leave the ruling coalition. But when the Morcha decided to formally withdraw, Prachanda wants more clarity on what’s going on.
During his stay in India, New Delhi has told Nidhi clearly that it has not changed its previous stance on the issue. The Indian establishment has made it clear that the demands of the Madheshi Morcha should be addressed in some way before elections take place. The former ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae, former PM Manmohan Singh and even DP Tripathi have maintained that elections can take place only when the demands of the Morcha are addressed.
Nidhi will return to Kathmandu with the same message. It would be then up to the Prime Minister to come up with a new strategy to deal with the situation. This will determine the fate of the fate of the civic elections.
