New Delhi
5 January 2011
India is playing host to several leaders from Nepal, including Maoist vice-
chairman Baburam Bhattarai, as the Himalayan republic makes tentative moves to break
the political stalemate and reassure an anxious international community that the peace
process would be taken to a logical conclusion.
Bhattarai, number two in the Maoist hierarchy after its chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Prachanda, is visiting New Delhi close on the heels after making known his differences
with the party over its policies, including its attitude toward India. Bhattarai's dissenting
note came at the party's central committee meeting earlier in the week.
Bhattarai is expected to call on external affairs minister SM Krishna on Friday. He is
understood to have already met with senior Indian officials and a senior Congress leader
and minister.
KP Sharma Oli, a senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and a former
deputy prime minister, called on Mr Krishna on Wednesday. The CPN(UML) is one of the
main parties in the ruling coalition in Nepal today.
Ms Sujata Koirala, deputy prime minister of Nepal and daughter of the late prime
minister Girija Prasad Koirala, is also among the leaders visiting Delhi. She is expected
to hold talks with Mr Krishna and others on Friday.
Despite 16 attempts, the Nepal parliament has not been able to elect a new prime
minister.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao is expected to travel to Kathmandu later this month, a
few days after the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) ends on
January 15. Ms Rao's visit will be followed by that of Mr Krishna.
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