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The Indian National Congress (INC) has outlined its commitment to prioritize relations with neighboring countries, including Nepal, in its election manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. 

“We will re-establish the primacy of our special relationship with Nepal and Bhutan and strengthen them to our mutual benefits,” the manifesto states.

Furthermore, the INC manifesto pledges to enhance economic and cultural ties with Bangladesh, as well as address political issues in Sri Lanka, particularly concerning the Tamil community. Additionally, it aims to mend relations with the Maldives and support Myanmar in protecting the political and human rights of its people.

The party also emphasizes bolstering India’s role in multilateral institutions, collaborating with other Global South countries on key issues, and advocating for reforms to address transnational challenges.

Asserting a commitment to continuity in India’s foreign policy, the manifesto underscores the influence of historical figures like Jawaharlal Nehru. 

“Congress affirms and will uphold continuity of India’s foreign policy. Our approach was profoundly shaped by the freedom movement and developed through the wisdom of visionary leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru,” the INC says in its manifesto. 

The party has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party and the National Democratic Alliance (BJP/NDA) government for deviating from this consensus, particularly regarding the Gaza conflict, and pledged to restore India’s reputation as a proponent of peace and moderation on the global stage.

Newly appointed Chief Minister in the Lumbini Province Jokh Bahadur Mahara took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

Province Chief Amik Sherchan administered the oath of office and secrecy amidst a function held at the Butwal-based Office of the Province Chief.

The Province Chief appointed Mahara to the post per Article 168(2) of the Constitution. He is the fifth chief minister of the Lumbini Province.

The post of chief minister remained vacant with the resignation of Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary on April 4.

The following day on April 5, Mahara presented his claim for the chief minister with the support of 48 PA members: 47 from five political parties and one independent.

Mahara, who is also serving as the standing committee member of the CPN (Maoist Centre), was born on October 18, 1963, in Sunil Smriti Rural Municipality-5 in Rolpa to Ramita Mahara (mother) and Khal Bahadur Mahara (father).

He represents the Rolpa constituency-1(A) in the Lumbini PA. He was the Minister for Economic Affairs in last year's government led by UML's Parliamentary Party leader for the province, Lila Giri.

Meanwhile, the chief minister formed a small Cabinet today itself, inducting CPN-UML's Chet Narayan Acharya, CPN (Maoist Center)'s Dipendra Bahadur Pun, and Janata Samajbadi Party's Bhandari Lal Ahir as ministers without portfolio.

The newly appointed ministers also took the oath today.

Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun has vowed to maintain transparency while determining the rate of revenues in the budget statement for the next fiscal year 2024/25.

Addressing an interaction on 'revenue consultations and budget preparation' organized by the Ministry of Finance and the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry today, he said since increasing and decreasing the tax rates through the budget statement courted controversy in the previous years, clarifications with reasons for the fluctuation in the tax rate would be included in the upcoming fiscal year's budget statement.

Finance Minister Pun also expressed the commitment that he would not change the tax or revenue rates to benefit a particular person or industry. "We are preparing to carry out works so that there is no controversy in the tax rates this year. We will clearly determine our threshold and work accordingly," he added.

He assured of his facilitation in establishing Birgunj as an 'economic city' as demanded by the industrialists and businesspersons of Birgunj. He reiterated the federal government's support to developing Birgunj as an industrial city.

"Pokhara has been recently declared as the tourism capital. The Prime Minister himself attended the declaration program organized under the leadership of the local level of Pokhara and the Gandaki Province, and announced Pokhara as a tourism capital. The demand of the industrialists and businesspersons of Birgunj to declare it as an 'economic city' is extremely positive. The federal government shall support if the Birgunj Metropolitan City and the Madhes Province propose the same," the finance minister said.

He described Birgunj as an industrial city as well as the economic capital city, stating that they would take initiatives to develop Birgunj as a special economic zone in this context.

According to him, the government will move ahead in deference to the desire and aspiration of the people.

Calling upon the politicians, the business community, civil society and bureaucrats to work hand in hand and contribute from their respective places for the country's development and prosperity, he reiterated that the government shall bring forth policy for protecting the industrial sector.

Newly appointed Gandaki Province Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari took the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatta administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari this afternoon.

After Adhikari was sworn in as the chief minister, Deepak Manange of CPN (Unified Socialist) and Hari Bahadur Chuman of CPN (Maoist Center) were also administered the oath of office and secrecy as ministers without portfolio.

Province Chief Bhatta appointed Adhikari as the chief minister with the support of two or more than two parties as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.

Adhikari staked a claim for the chief ministerial position with the support of UML, Maoist Center and CPN (US).

Nepali Congress has 27 lawmakers, UML 22, Maoist Center eight (including Speaker), Rastriya Prajatantra Party two and CPN (US) one lawmaker in Gandaki.

After the Maoist withdrew its support to the Surendra Raj Pandey government, the chief minister had to take a vote of confidence within 30 days.

Pandey resigned from the post of chief minister after he did not see any situation to win the vote of confidence.