Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara is embarking on a three-day official visit to India on Sunday. Soon after Mahara assumed office, External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj invited him to visit New Delhi on a convenient date.

Swaraj is hosting a dinner in honour of Mahara on Monday evening where the CPN (Maoist Centre) leader will seek India’s support for Nepal’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council in an election slated for November.

Mahara will also be meeting separately with some five dozen Delhi-based ambassadors accredited for Kathmandu to garner support for Nepal’s candidature.

Another key objective of DPM Mahara’s visit, according to Foreign Ministry officials, is to convey to the Indian leadership that the Sher Bahadur Deuba government’s foreign policy would be a continuation of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led administration. The incumbent government believes in maintaining balanced relations with both of Nepal’s neighbours—India and China.

Mahara will also prepare the ground for the visit of Prime Minister Deuba to India possibly in July-end. Deuba has agreed to make Delhi his first port of call after taking the PM’s seat. During Mahara’s visit, both the sides will work on finalising the dates and probable agendas of the prime minister’s visit.

Besides, Mahara’s meetings in the Indian capital will review the political, trade, investment and development cooperation agendas between the two neighbours. The status of implementation of the India-funded projects in Nepal and post-earthquake reconstruction are also said to figure in Mahara’s bilateral engagements in Delhi.

The Nepali Embassy is coordinating with foreign missions in New Delhi for meetings with Mahara, who will lobby for Nepal’s UNHRC bid.