India wants timely polls in Nepal: Sushil Koirala

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, who Friday returned home after a six-day visit to India, said he has assured New Delhi that the Constituent Assembly elections will be held on the stipulated date.

On his arrival at the Tribhuvan airport, Koirala said his visit to India was successful.

"Elections will be held at any cost. I told the Indian leaders that polls will be held on the stipulated date. I also made clear that there will be no if and but," Koirala said.

He said India was ready to provide all kinds of support for the elections scheduled to be held Nov 19.

"Indian leaders made a point that only election can guarantee peace, stability and democracy in Nepal," Koirala said.

The Nepali leader was accompanied by party general secretaries Prakash Man Singh and Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

Koirala met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid among other leaders.

"After meeting Indian leaders, I found that my visit has given fresh momentum to bilateral relations as well as to party-to party relations with various Indian parties."

"As election is considered the core of democracy, I found Indian leaders supportive to this end," he said.

Koirala said he informed the Indian leaders about the efforts being taken to bring back dissenting parties in the poll process.

He also met the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India's states sharing the border with Nepal, and raised the issue of floods in Nepal reportedly caused by India-built embankments and curbing criminals in border areas.