Narendra Modi likely to visit Nepal before May Polls

Kathmandu: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Nepal in late February or early March to offer prayers at the famed Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, according to the sources. The visit would be just ahead of Modi kicking off his election campaign for the parliamentary polls in India scheduled for May.

While Indian officials have not yet confirmed Modi’s Nepal visit, preparations are already underway by the Nepali government for the high-profile trip. Sources revealed that a team of Indian security personnel including SPG, SSB, and Indian Army recently visited Kathmandu to make arrangements at the Pashupatinath complex where Modi is expected to offer prayers.

Analysts see the potential visit as more of a religious pit stop for Modi rather than a political trip. Paying obeisance at the Hindu temple before embarking on electioneering is considered customary for Indian leaders. This would be Modi’s fifth visit to Nepal as Prime Minister should the trip materialize in the coming weeks. He has undertaken state visits, attended the SAARC summit, and also visited religious sites in Nepal in 2014 and 2018.

The Indian parliamentary polls are widely expected to be held in summer 2024, with Modi seeking re-election for a second term. Political pundits anticipate Modi will make the customary Pashupatinath visit ahead of hitting the campaign trail across India. While both sides have made preparations for the visit, neither government has officially confirmed the trip yet. But sources maintain that if conditions remain conducive, Modi is likely to travel to Kathmandu for darshan at Pashupatinath temple before the Indian elections.