Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has said that his party will focus on “development diplomacy” to strengthen ties between Nepal and India. He made the statement while thanking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for congratulating him and his party on their recent electoral success in Nepal.

Lamichhane expressed gratitude to the Indian Prime Minister for his warm wishes and for acknowledging the democratic decision of the Nepali people. In a social media post, he said, “Thank you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for your warm wishes and for recognising the democratic mandate of the Nepali people.”

The RSP leader emphasised that the new government led by his party will work towards building a strong partnership with India based on mutual respect and shared progress. He said that the party would focus on strengthening cooperation between the two neighbouring countries in different areas of development.

“RSP and our government will remain dedicated to fostering a relationship built on mutual respect and shared prosperity where RSP will prioritise ‘development diplomacy’,” Lamichhane said.

He further added that the party hopes to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two nations through various sectors. According to him, connectivity, cultural tourism, energy, and trade are key areas where both countries can work together to build a better future for their people.

“We look forward to a partnership with India that scales new heights through cooperation in connectivity, cultural tourism, energy, and trade, ensuring a prosperous future for the people of both countries,” Lamichhane said.

The statement came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Lamichhane and Balendra Shah for their victory in Nepal’s national elections. Modi also reaffirmed India’s commitment to working closely with Nepal to strengthen bilateral relations and ensure mutual progress and well-being.

In a social media post, Modi said, “I am confident that with our joint endeavours, India and Nepal relations will scale new heights in the years ahead.”

Balendra Shah, who is associated with the RSP leadership, is set to become Nepal’s first Madhesi prime minister. He is also expected to be the youngest elected executive head of the country.

Meanwhile, the Rastriya Swatantra Party is moving towards a strong majority in Nepal’s parliamentary elections. As of Monday evening, the party had secured 125 seats through the direct voting system in the parliamentary polls. It has also received 48,29,910 votes under the proportional representation voting system.

Nepal’s House of Representatives has a total of 275 seats. Out of these, 165 members are elected through the First Past The Post (FPTP) or direct voting system, while 110 members are chosen through proportional representation.

In the ongoing election results, outcomes have already been declared for 161 out of the 165 seats that are decided through direct voting. The results for the remaining four seats are expected to be announced soon.

Under the proportional representation system, the RSP has secured 48,29,910 votes so far. Other parties have also received votes under the same system. The Nepali Congress (NC) received 16,28,704 votes, while the CPN-UML got 1,35,939 votes. The NCP secured 7,38,067 votes.

Among other parties, the Shram Sanskriti Party received 341,518 votes, the Janata Samajwadi Party secured 1,16,463 votes, and the Rastriya Parivartan Party got 317,46 votes.

Political observers believe that the RSP’s strong performance in the proportional representation system will significantly increase its total number of seats in the parliament. With more than 40 lakh votes under this system, the party is expected to gain at least 48 additional seats.

If that happens, the RSP’s total tally in the House of Representatives could reach around 164 seats. This would place the party well above the 138 seats required to secure a simple majority in the 275-member parliament.

The election results and the statements from leaders of both countries indicate that Nepal and India may continue to work closely in the coming years. Lamichhane’s emphasis on development diplomacy and cooperation reflects the importance both sides place on strengthening their long-standing partnership and ensuring shared growth and prosperity for their citizens.