Kathmandu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held telephonic talks with top Nepalese leaders, including KP Sharma Oli, who is set to become the premier of the Himalayan nation, and congratulated him on his alliance’s grand victory.

The conversations were the first highest-level contact between the leaderships of the two countries after the Left alliance of Oli and Prachanda swept the elections recently.

Modi expressed happiness on Nepal’s successful conduct of three levels of elections — local body, provincial assembly and parliamentary. “The results will strengthen democracy, bring political stability and lead Nepal towards economic prosperity,” a statement by the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) in Kathmandu quoted Modi as saying.

It said Modi also invited Oli to visit India immediately after the formation of the new government. “Modi said his government is willing to work with Nepal,” the statement said.

Oli said good relations will be maintained with neighbours and he would like to collaborate with all nations, especially India and China, for economic development and prosperity. Modi also telephoned his Nepalese counterpart and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-Maoist chief Prachanda.