Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bimalendra Nidhi on Friday held talks with India’s Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi.

DPM Nidhi arrived in the Indian capital on Thursday as a special envoy of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

According to an official who was present in the meeting, Swaraj expressed optimism that Nepal’s new government’s efforts to accommodate the concerns of agitating parties will come to fruition.

“With the formation of a new government in Nepal, political developments are heading towards a positive direction as the new dispensation is trying to accommodate all the sections,” a source quoted Swaraj as saying in the meeting. Nidhi informed Swaraj about Dahal government’s plans to amend the constitution to address the demands of Madhes-based parties. “One of the major priorities of the government is addressing the demands of the agitating parties to ensure acceptability of the new constitution,” Nidhi said.

Nidhi’s visit to Delhi on the heels of formation of a new government in Kathmandu is aimed at mending Nepal-India ties that hit a new low following the promulgation of the constitution in September last year. Protests in the Tarai amid Delhi’s calls for “accommodating concerns of all sections” and subsequent border blockade had resulted in frosty relations between Kathmandu and Delhi.

Nidhi conveyed PM Dahal’s message to Swaraj that Nepal wants to restore the bilateral relations of the kind the two countries enjoyed in 2014 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Nepal.

Nidhi is also carrying PM Dahal’s message that his government attaches great importance to support and goodwill of a neighbouring country to implement the constitution, address the concerns of agitating groups and complete the remaining task of the peace process.

Swaraj expressed full support to the government of Nepal in its efforts to hold elections, one of the most important aspects of the constitution implementation, on time as per the constitutional provisions.

Nidhi also met Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. Stating that India wants to see political stability in Nepal, Singh appreciated the decisions taken by the new government to declare those who were killed during the Tarai protests martyrs.

Nidhi is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Modi on Saturday.  He is in Delhi also to lay the groundwork for PM Dahal’s visit for which Nepal has proposed September 15-16.

Nidhi on Friday also sought Indian assistance for providing additional Rs 100,000 to the earthquake survivors.