Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from his own party, CPN-UML, to start his first foreign visit from China if the Indian side does not lift the blockade on Nepal immediately.

“The prime minister should not begin his first foreign visit from India if they did not lift the blockade at the Birgunj border,” said UML Deputy Spokesman Surya Thapa. PM Oli has publicly ruled out visiting India if the blockade continues. While the PM himself is keen on visiting India first thus keeping up with the tradition, the Indian side has not confirmed the date of his visit.

Informed sources say that New Delhi wants PM Oli to commit on forming a political mechanism to look into the demarcation row before it rolls out the red carpet for him.

During a meeting between PM Oli and Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae on Sunday, the latter reportedly inquired about addressing the demands of the agitating Samyuktya Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, including the prospects of an agreement on revising the federal boundaries before India visit, the possibility of a Cabinet decision on addressing the Morcha’s demands and formation of the political mechanism to address the demands.

The Indian side has been telling the PM and other political leaders that it would be pleased to see a commitment to address the rest of the SLMM demands through a Cabinet decision.