Amid growing uncertainly over the Nepalese political situation, the country's influential neighbour India Sunday said the key November elections must be held on schedule, according to dpa. "India has consistently believed that these elections will allow the people of Nepal to choose the manner in which they wish their country to be governed by giving themselves a new constitution," Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told reporters. The Indian view came as Nepal's political future seemed murky once again amid threats that Maoists would leave the government to push for their demands, including the abolition of monarchy, ahead of the elections on November 22. The Maoists have set Monday midnight as the deadline for its coalition partners to meet the demands or face street protests and strikes. India, which shares a common border with Nepal and has considerable influence on its political leaders, threw its weight behind the pro-democracy movement that toppled King Gyanendra's government in April 2006. "My conviction that the people of Nepal will successfully address the challenging tasks of democratic nation-building which lies ahead," Menon said. "Two years ago it was difficult to believe that Nepal will pass on to this phase of transition." During his stay in Kathmandu, Menon met with the Nepalese prime minister and top political leaders discussing the current political situation.
