Campaigning intensifies in Nepal, India hopes for fair polls

As campaigning intensifies in Nepal, all major political parties, including Nepali Congress, have claimed that they would win the November 19 Constituent Assembly polls, even as India hopes that there would be fair elections.
Nepali Congress "will either win a simple majority or emerge as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly elections", party general secretary Prakash Man Singh, who is contesting polls from Kathmandu 1 constituency said while talking to select Indian mediapersons at his residence here.
"It is necessary for the people to give clear victory to a democratic party for drafting a fully democratic constitution," Singh said.

With open borders, India's best bet would be a smooth election process in Nepal to avert any spillover of the instability caused by the ongoing political turmoil and transition there.
India has provided logistic support which includes 900 vehicles to ferry officials of security agencies and election commission.
It is also understood that in view of the upcoming elections, there is a heighten vigil and close coordination between the two nations to curb any illegal cross border activities. The borders are also expected to be sealed for 3-4 days ahead of the elections in Nepal.

For once, it seems both India and China, which has increased it engagement significantly in key areas of social development and political process, are on the same page as far as elections in Nepal are concerned.

There is a view in New Delhi that China feels it is important to have a smooth political process in Nepal as any instability could impact Tibet.
New Delhi also does not feel that India is a major poll issue in the upcoming elections despite attempts by the the CPN-Maoist, the breakaway faction of the UCPN-Maoist, to do so.
"Nepali Congress stands for democracy, nationalism and religious freedom since its inception," Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh said and cautioned the voters against those political parties that are making religion a major election agenda to woo the voters.
Singh was pointing towards Kamal Thapa-led pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal, which is campaigning for reinstating Nepal as a Hindu state and restoring constitutional monarchy in the country.