BJP invites five Nepali parties to see its poll drive

India’s ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party has invited eighteen political parties from 10 countries, including Nepal, “to get first-hand experience and insights into BJP’s election campaign”. Apart from witnessing the election campaign, they will also meet India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other leaders. From Nepal, BJP has invited representatives from the Nepali Congress, Janamat Party, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and Rastriya Swatantra Party.

BJP has also invited parties from Australia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Israel, Uganda, Tanzania, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius for the event. According to BJP, the visit is part of the global outreach program titled ‘Know BJP’, which was launched last year. The Nepali delegation to India includes Uday Shumsher Rana from the NC, Bishnu Rimal from UML, Matrika Yadav from the Maoist Center, Shishir Khanal from RSP, and Jayakant Raut from the Janamat Party. India is holding its 17th Lok Sabha election, which will conclude on June 1.

Over the past few years, BJP has been engaging with Nepal’s political parties and several senior leaders, including prime ministers, have visited the BJP headquarters. The invite comes amid forecasts that BJP will return to power for the third consecutive term with continuation of Narendra Modi as prime minister. BJP is suggesting Nepal’s political parties to scrap secularism and go for the Hindu state.