PM Narendra Modi congratulates KP Oli, says India wants to strengthen ties

NEW DELHI: As KP Oli was elected the Prime Minister of Nepal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called him up to congratulate him and said India wants to strengthen ties even further, a statement that comes amidst an unease in the bilateral relations.

"Spoke to Shri KP Oli. Congratulated him & invited him to visit India. We value ties with Nepal & want to strengthen them even further," Modi tweeted.

The telephonic conversation comes at a time when there is an unease in the relationship between two countries, since Nepal adopted a new Constitution.

Nepal has alleged that India has imposed an economic blockade on the country following the announcement of its new Constitution, which is being seen as against the interest of Indian-origin Madhesi community living in the Terai region of the Himalayan nation.

India sees no merit in Nepal's complaints that it was being "choked" and deprived of essential supplies.

Oli, a veteran politician and CPN-UML chairman, was today elected as the 38th Prime Minister of Nepal after defeating incumbent Sushil Koirala in a voting.