India is one of the key contributors to Nepal’s election preparations, providing essential items such as vehicles and other logistical supplies. India has handed over three tranches of election assistance to Nepal.
On 20 January, India handed over the first tranche of election assistance to Nepal. It was formally handed over to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal in a ceremony at the Ministry of Home Affairs on 20 January.
At the ceremony, the Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Dr. Rakesh Pandey, handed over more than 60 double-cab pickup vehicles along with other logistical supplies. The assistance forms part of the support requested by the Government of Nepal for preparations for the upcoming elections.
Home Minister Aryal expressed gratitude to the Government and people of India for the support and appreciated the deep and comprehensive ties between the two neighboring countries.
In the second tranche on 29 January, India’s support, comprising more than 250 vehicles, was formally handed over at a ceremony held at Nepal’s Ministry of Finance. India’s Charge d’Affaires a.i., Dr. Rakesh Pandey, presented the vehicles in the presence of Nepal’s Minister for Finance, Rameshore Prasad Khanal.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Khanal highlighted the longstanding cooperation and friendly relations between Nepal and India. He expressed gratitude to the Government and people of India for the timely support and noted the importance of the assistance in facilitating logistical preparations for the forthcoming elections. The supplies form part of the election-related assistance requested by the Government of Nepal.
Moreover, on 12 February, the third tranche of election-related assistance from the Government of India to Nepal was ceremonially handed over by Ambassador Naveen Srivastava to Nepal’s Minister for Home Affairs, Om Prakash Aryal, at an event held at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The third tranche of assistance had more than 270 vehicles, including 50 trucks for the Nepali Army, along with other supplies, in line with Nepal’s request for support for preparations related to the upcoming elections.
The trucks for the Nepali Army were received by the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, from Ambassador Srivastava.
Minister Om Prakash Aryal thanked the Indian side for the timely and significant assistance provided to Nepal. He also conveyed his appreciation for the mutually beneficial and comprehensive nature of cooperation between the two countries, marked by mutual trust, friendship, and a shared adherence to democratic values.
According to the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, the first two tranches of election-related assistance comprised over 310 vehicles and other supplies. “The ongoing cooperation and support from the Indian side reflects the multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that exists between both countries. It also symbolizes the deep mutual trust and friendship between the people of India and Nepal,” the embassy stated.
