Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi will embark on a four-day visit to India on Thursday, in capacity of a special envoy of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Besides laying the groundwork for PM Dahal’s visit to the southern neighbour, DPM Nidhi has also been tasked with assuring India that Nepal’s commitment to good relations with New Delhi will continue.

The government on Thursday had decided to send DPMs Nidhi and Mahara to Delhi and Beijing as its special representatives. DPM Mahara, who left for China on Monday, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday.

The date for Nidhi’s visit to Delhi was fixed after his meeting with Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae on Tuesday.

Home Secretary Narayan Gopal Malego, who was present at the meeting of Nidhi and Rae, told the Post that Nidhi would leave for Delhi on Thursday to lay the groundwork for PM Dahal’s visit to India and invite Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to Nepal.

“I have called a meeting of foreign ministry officials and others to discuss the prime minister’s visit to India and the agendas that could be put on the table from our side during the visit,” said Malego.

While in New Delhi, DPM Nidhi is scheduled to meet Indian President Mukherjee, Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Senior Indian leaders and officials will pay a courtesy call on Nidhi on Friday and Saturday.

Another important task of Nidhi as the government’s special envoy will be conveying PM Dahal’s message to Modi that Nepal desires to have balanced and friendly relations with both India and China. DPM Nidhi will also convey to Modi that PM Dahal attaches great importance to support and goodwill of Nepal’s neighbours in her bid to complete the remaining task of the peace process and implementation of the constitution.

Nidhi will also be carrying an invitation from President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to her Indian counterpart Mukherjee.

According to officials, government wants to invite Mukherjee as a chief guest for a programme to mark the first anniversary of the promulgation of the constitution slated for September 19.

During his stay in New Delhi, DPM Nidhi will also hold discussions about President Bhandari’s visit to India. The erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government had cancelled President Bhandari’s scheduled trip to India in May after then Cabinet failed to endorse the visit.