India to provide logistic support for Nepal polls, says Sher Bahadur Deuba

KATHMANDU: India has assured Nepal of logistic support for the Constituent Assembly elections in November, former Premier and senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba today said.

Deuba returned today from his six-day visit to India and described it as "very much successful".

Deuba, who met top Indian leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and opposition leaders, told reporters at Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival that, "India wants to see a stable, democratic and prosperous Nepal and has offered to provide all kinds of assistance and support to us."

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured to provide logistic support for the Constituent Assembly elections scheduled to take place on November 19 and I found government of India ready to provide all kinds of assistance for consolidating democracy and attaining political stability through the elections," he said.

"During my meeting with Indian leaders they expressed hope that Constituent Assembly polls would be conducted on time and Nepalese people will get a constitution and the country will attain political stability soon," Deuba said.

India has offered to increase investment in Nepal and provide duty-free access for Nepalese products to Indian markets that would help the country recover from a huge trade deficit it is currently facing, he said.

During his talks with Sonia Gandhi, they discussed strengthening relations between Nepali Congress and the Congress Party, he said, adding, Indian leaders conveyed best wishes for timely conduct of elections in Nepal and institutionalising the federal republic system.

On India's preference regarding the model of federalism in Nepal, he said, India would support whatever system Nepali people adopt.