Foreign policy watchers and experts say the jabs could prove for Delhi, which is in a bid to win over its neighbours, a shot in the arm.

Prime minister’s puja at Pashupati comes at a time when calls are growing for restoration of a Hindu state with monarchy and the country has been pushed towards uncertainty.

Views differed in the party over House dissolution. Now there are questions whether it should join hands with Oli or Dahal-Nepal faction in Bagmati and Province 1.

Foreign Minister Gyawali reiterates Nepal’s commitment to human rights, deflects US queries on Nepal-China agreements as a bilateral matter.

While Bhattarai and Yadav want to protest against the dissolution of the House, Thakur and Mahato have other plans.

The party needs to send a message of unity to its cadres and maintain a balance in its relationship with both factions of the communist party, they say.

The Ministry of Health and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu are expected to jointly announce the details regarding the supply of vaccines, including the number of doses, to Nepal on Wednesday.

While Oli’s party appears confident about polls and forces like Congress and Janata Samajbadi Party are weighing their options, the Dahal-Nepal camp is groping in the dark.

There were no concrete outcomes from the visit on the border row or vaccine procurement. It just marked a resumption of bilateral engagements between Nepal and India.

As hinted, India showed reluctance to get into the issue despite the Nepali side putting the matter on the table.

Foreign Minister Gyawali and his Indian counterpart Jaishankar are leading their delegations.

The foreign minister is travelling to India on the heels of political turmoil caused by Oli’s decision to dissolve the House and declare snap polls for April 30 and May 10.

He has earned brownie points for taking a nationalist stance, but some say he managed to distract Nepalis from his failures and the ongoing crisis while sending a message to Delhi he is ready to play along.

The party that had been licking its wounds after the 2017 electoral defeat is suddenly licking its lips at the thought of returning to power whichever way the situation unfolds–either the House is restored or the country goes to polls.

Government has placed all bets on vaccines being manufactured in India because of logistical issues but experts warn that other avenues must also be explored.