President Bidya Devi Bhandari arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a five-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.

India’s State Minister for Women and Children Development Krishna Raj received Bhandari at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Raj is a Member of Parliament elected from Uttar Pradesh. Senior officials from the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi and India’s Ministry of External Affairs were also present to welcome Bhandari.

Her main official engagements will start on Tuesday.

After her arrival on Monday, President Bhandari held separate meetings with some Indian political leaders and members of the Nepali community in New Delhi.

During the meetings, President Bhandari described Nepal’s constitution as inclusive and said that upcoming elections, including those for local levels slated for May 14, will further consolidate it.

On Monday, New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Keijirwal and Indian leaders DP Tripathi, general secretary of Nationalist Congress, senior Janata Dal United leader Sarad Yadav and Communist Party of India General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri called on President Bhandari.

“Our constitution is inclusive. The upcoming elections will further cement the rights of the marginalised community,” Bhandari’s Principal Secretary Bhesh Raj Adhikari quoted her as saying during the meetings.

Tripathi described Bhandari’s visit as an important one, saying it will further consolidate the ties between the two countries.

Later in the day, President Bhandari addressed the Nepali community in Delhi. “Nepal is heading towards peace, stability and development with the adoption of the new constitution,” she said, underlining the need of more efforts to institutionalise the achievements made so far.

President Bhandari will hold talks with her Indian counterpart Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

President Bhandari is also scheduled to visit Odisha and Gujarat from Wednesday onwards.