Nepal PM Khanal plans India visit

Kathmandu (PTI) - Jhala Nath Khanal, the new
Prime Minister of Nepal, plans to make his first official
visit to India following months of political crisis that has
stalled the landmark peace process in the country.
Top aides of the Prime Minister have been working
quietly on his India visit, though no date has been finalised
yet, The Kathmandu Post newspaper said.
Even as the Prime Minister's office refused to confirm
the visit, the daily quoted sources as saying that Khanal is
keen to visit India before his tour of Turkey to attend the
conference of Least Developed Countries on May 9.
Former Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda had sparked a
row in Nepal and India when he made his first official tour to
China in break with tradition of Nepalese leaders making New
Delhi the first port of call on taking office.
Political crisis in Nepal has raised question mark
over the promulgation of a new constitution by May 28, the
deadline set by the 601-Constituent Assembly that acts as the
interim parliament.
Khanal, who was elected the Prime Minister on February
3 after 17 attempts over a seven-month period, is still in the
process of giving final shape to his cabinet amid differences
over power sharing with his key ally Maoists. He is yet to
appoint a foreign minister.
Khanal yesterday expanded his cabinet with the
induction of 12 ministers.
India has often expressed concern over the political
instability in Nepal as the two countries have close bilateral
ties and share an open border.