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Nepal's ruling party chief Rabi Lamichhane arrived in India on Monday in the first high-level visit by Kathmandu's new leadership since the 2025 anti-corruption youth protests that brought down the previous government and paved the way for a new political era under Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
Lamichhane, a former deputy prime minister and interior minister, called for closer economic and strategic cooperation with India on Tuesday. He serves as president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and is expected to hold high-level meetings during his visit, including a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to party officials.
The visit comes at a significant moment in Nepal-India relations. While Shah has largely avoided foreign engagements since taking office, choosing instead to focus on domestic challenges, Lamichhane's trip signals Kathmandu's intent to strengthen ties with its largest trading partner and long-time ally.
Shah, the 36-year-old rapper-turned-politician whose party secured a landslide victory in the March parliamentary elections, has reportedly declined meetings with several foreign envoys and stated that he does not intend to travel abroad during his first year in office.
In an article published in The Hindustan Times, Lamichhane argued that Nepal's economic development is closely linked to India's strategic interests.
"A stable and prosperous Nepal is a natural guardrail along India's northern border, whereas a politically fractured Nepal makes India nervous about instability in the neighbourhood," he wrote.
"Nepal's economic development is, therefore, a strategic necessity for India."
Nepal, a landlocked Himalayan nation of around 30 million people, maintains a delicate diplomatic balance between India and China. India remains Nepal's largest trading partner, accounting for nearly two-thirds of its imports, while China is the second-largest source of imports.
Lamichhane also highlighted Nepal's hydropower potential, suggesting that the country's river systems could help meet India's growing energy needs.
"Nepal's hydropower potential is no longer just a domestic asset; it is a clean, green engine capable of powering the industrial corridors of a rising India," he wrote.
The visit comes amid renewed attention to a long-running border dispute involving the Lipulekh Pass, where India, China and Nepal meet. The issue resurfaced after Prime Minister Shah recently said that both India and Nepal had encroached on each other's territory and should work together to resolve differences amicably.
A delegation of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepal, led by Chairman of RSP Shri Rabi Lamichhane, arrived in New Delhi this afternoon.I accompanied Shri Arun Singh ji, General Secretary, BJP, to welcome the delegates at IGI airport. @hamrorabi @ArunSinghbjp @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/kdBhsNuweB
— Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale (@vijai63) June 1, 2026
Lamichhane, a former deputy prime minister and interior minister, called for closer economic and strategic cooperation with India on Tuesday. He serves as president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and is expected to hold high-level meetings during his visit, including a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to party officials.
Nepal-India relations
The visit comes at a significant moment in Nepal-India relations. While Shah has largely avoided foreign engagements since taking office, choosing instead to focus on domestic challenges, Lamichhane's trip signals Kathmandu's intent to strengthen ties with its largest trading partner and long-time ally.
Rapper turned PM Balendra Shah
Shah, the 36-year-old rapper-turned-politician whose party secured a landslide victory in the March parliamentary elections, has reportedly declined meetings with several foreign envoys and stated that he does not intend to travel abroad during his first year in office.
In an article published in The Hindustan Times, Lamichhane argued that Nepal's economic development is closely linked to India's strategic interests.
"A stable and prosperous Nepal is a natural guardrail along India's northern border, whereas a politically fractured Nepal makes India nervous about instability in the neighbourhood," he wrote.
"Nepal's economic development is, therefore, a strategic necessity for India."
India remains Nepal's largest trading partner
Nepal, a landlocked Himalayan nation of around 30 million people, maintains a delicate diplomatic balance between India and China. India remains Nepal's largest trading partner, accounting for nearly two-thirds of its imports, while China is the second-largest source of imports.
Lamichhane also highlighted Nepal's hydropower potential, suggesting that the country's river systems could help meet India's growing energy needs.
"Nepal's hydropower potential is no longer just a domestic asset; it is a clean, green engine capable of powering the industrial corridors of a rising India," he wrote.
The visit comes amid renewed attention to a long-running border dispute involving the Lipulekh Pass, where India, China and Nepal meet. The issue resurfaced after Prime Minister Shah recently said that both India and Nepal had encroached on each other's territory and should work together to resolve differences amicably.
