India said on Wednesday that it has taken note of political developments in Nepal and views them as the country’s internal matters.

“We have taken note of the recent political developments in Nepal,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. “We view them as internal matters of Nepal to be dealt [with] by them under their own domestic framework and democratic processes.”

The Indian statement comes five days after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s move of dissolving the House of Representatives, second time in the last five months, and two days after the opposition alliance filed a joint petition with the signatures of as many as 146 members of the dissolved House demanding the restoration of the Parliament.

India is the first country to react to Nepal’s political developments.

“As a neighbour and friend, India remains unwavering in its support for Nepal and its people on their journey toward progress, peace, stability and development,” added the statement.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Friday night dissolved the House and called snap polls on November 12 and 19 on the recommendation of the Oli government. The move has met with criticism from various quarters for being unconstitutional. Public health experts and doctors have also decried the move, saying elections in the midst of a pandemic could spell a disaster.