India on Wednesday said it was ready to provide all kinds of support to the local level elections scheduled to be held in Nepal on May 14 and June 14.

This is the first time New Delhi clearly spoke in favour of the elections to the restructured local federal units in Nepal. Speaking during a weekly press briefing, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Gopal Baglay said, “India would certainly consider whatever assistance Nepal seeks.”

Recalling the recent telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and PM Narendra Modi, he said the latter offered any kind of assistance required in Nepal with regard to the polls. “Peace and stability in Nepal is of paramount importance to India.” “Local elections are important tool in any functioning democracy for consolidation of grassroots democracy. We have the same experience in India,” Baglay said. “Nepal is our closest neighbour; whatever assistance they seek will certainly be considered.”

Nepal has requested New Delhi for vehicles and other logistics required for holding the elections. The first phase of assistance was handed over to Nepal by the Indian ambassador in Kathmandu a few days ago. “India is in the process of providing more logistical assistance as per the request made by the Nepal government,” a senior official at the Nepali Embassy in Delhi said.