The Indo-Nepal Relations after the elections in Nepal

Elections to the Constitutional Assembly in Nepal is over. The CPN(Maoists) has emerged as the  single largest party in the elections by securing 220 seats and the Maoist leader Mr.Prachanda is becoming the Prime Minister of Nepal and his approach with other political parties is that of a dominant partner  and to be cordial with all coalition parties and to carry forward all towards a progressive Nepal.The 240 years old monarchy has come to an end and in the wake of tough stance of the Maoists towards monarchy, there seems to be no problem with the monarchy at all and it will have its peaceful demise in the near future.

As far as India is concerned, it has to reciprocate the cordial relations and extend its usual ties of friendship with its neighbor and India has no qualms in acknowledging the rise of CPN who has in fact chosen the path of democracy at the request of Indian leaders.

The only area of concern that has got to be resolved is the Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950.

Time and again, the Nepalese leaders including Koirala, the former Prime Minister of Nepal had called for the review of the treaty. In the past six decades, India has successfully dealt with the treaty without any major shift in foreign policy or strain of relations with Nepal.

Though Maoists have promised to have a cordial relations with both India and China, Nepal’s foreign relations mainly revolve upon its relations with India.

With their newly acquired political status, Maoists have called for not only the reviewing but also scrapping of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950,in the modified political context.

Both India and Nepal should bear in mind that Nepal is a landlocked country surrounded by India on all sides and Nepal depends for everything even for its food supplies only through its land routes.

Taking the above aspects into consideration and India on its part not with a big brother attitude and as far as Nepal is concerned with a sober approach, can solve the problem relating to the Indo-Nepal Treaty, 1950, including its review and if need be scrapping of the treaty and replacing it with a new one.