Deuba in Delhi : Indian leaders seek pact for polls

Indian leaders have suggested former prime minister and senior Nepali Congress (NC) leader Sher Bahadur Deuba forge political consensus at the earliest to hold the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.

Deuba, who is on a six-day official India visit, held discussions with the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday.

“India wishes for Nepal to move along the path of writing a democratic constitution. It is high time the political parties in Nepal came together for the polls,” Gandhi said in her meeting with Deuba. Gandhi also pledged that India would assist Nepal in the elections.

In the meeting at Gandhi’s official residence at 10 Janpath Road, the UPA chief and the NC leader also discussed the issue of federalism. To the curiosity of Gandhi on Nepal’s decision to go for federalism, Deuba said the decision on the matter would be taken in terms of political consensus among the parties. Congress-I leader Karan Singh was also present in the meeting, while Deuba was accompanied by his wife Aarju Deuba and NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi.

Earlier in the day, the former Nepali prime minister held a luncheon meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister Khurshid. During the meet at Hyderabad House, Khurshid told Deuba that Nepal should announce the election date

without delay. “Elections are the only way to peace and constitution and India expects Nepal to announce the date based on political consensus,” Khurshid said. He also pledged logistical support for the elections. Deuba assured Khurshid that the date would be announced very soon.

“We have learnt a great deal from the experiences gathered and mistakes made in the last polls. We will soon reach an understanding to write a new constitution on time,” Deuba said. According to Nidhi, the discussions between Deuba and Khurshid centred on elections and constitution writing. Earlier, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon called on Deuba at Hotel Maurya.

The NC leader also met Law Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday. He is scheduled to call on India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.

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