BJP foreign affairs chief Chauthaiwale in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, in-charge of the Foreign Affairs Department of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening Nepal-India relations and engaging with key political stakeholders.

He is widely known as a close confidant of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to play a role in improving the recently strained bilateral ties.

During his stay, Chauthaiwale is scheduled to meet with the former Prime Minister and the leader of main opposition Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, senior leaders of the ruling coalition, opposition party figures, and leaders of the Madhesh-based political fronts.

His visit is part of a broader initiative to deepen ties with all major political parties in Nepal and foster goodwill at a time when high-level exchanges between the two neighbors have been limited.

Sources indicate that Chauthaiwale’s discussions will focus on political cooperation, regional connectivity, and creating a conducive environment for a potential visit by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to India — a visit that has yet to materialize despite earlier discussions.

His meetings are seen as a confidence-building measure to facilitate such high-level engagements and to reduce diplomatic friction. Chauthaiwale, who arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday morning, is expected to conclude his visit and return to India on Friday.