President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday sent separate messages of congratulation to Ram Nath Kovind on his election as the 14th President of India. 

In their messages, the President and the prime minister have also expressed willingness to work closely with him in the days ahead to further strengthen the cordial relations between Nepal and India, according to a statement issued by the of Foreign Ministry.

Kovind, a Hindu nationalist leader backed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was elected by the Indian Parliament and state legislatures in voting held on Monday,.