Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Nepal’s former ambassador to India, said on Tuesday that New Delhi is positive about the elections to the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies scheduled for November 26 and December 7.

“India has always expressed its commitment to formally supporting and extending assistance to Nepal’s elections. Therefore, we should not have any doubts about India’s intentions,” Upadhyay said at the Reporters’ Club on Tuesday.

Upadhyay, who stepped down as the ambassador on October 6 to contest the elections, was first appointed by the Sushil Koirala-led government in April 2015. But he was recalled in May 2016 by the government led by CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli for “working against the regime”.

He was reinstated to the post by the next government led by CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal in September 2016. His resignation was approved by the Cabinet on Monday.

“I went to India as ambassador at the special request of then Congress president Sushil Koirala and then President Ram Baran Yadav. I had expressed my desire to return to politics then as well,” said Upadhyay, a former lawmaker from Kapilvastu.

NC Kapilvastu District Committee has recommended his candidacy from Kapilvastu-1. “I decided to contest elections at the request of people of my hometown and the party,” he said. “I was born in Kapilvastu so I will contest the elections from Kapilvastu.”