Kathmandu, March 9 (NationPress) Following the decisive triumph of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Nepal's parliamentary elections conducted on March 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India extended his congratulations to the party's President Rabi Lamichhane and prominent leader Balen Shah on Monday.

In a message shared on the social media platform X, PM Modi revealed that he had spoken via telephone with both Lamichhane and Shah, who is anticipated to assume the role of Prime Minister in the near future.

"I congratulated both leaders on their electoral achievements and the RSP's significant success in the Nepal elections," PM Modi stated.

He further expressed, "I wish them the best as they prepare to establish their new government, and reiterated India's commitment to collaborating with them for the mutual prosperity, progress, and welfare of our two nations. I am optimistic that through our combined efforts, India–Nepal relations will reach unprecedented heights in the future."

As of Monday evening, vote counting had been completed in 163 out of 165 constituencies, with the RSP securing victory in 125 seats, which corresponds to approximately 76% of the total available seats.

Additionally, the RSP is leading in the proportional representation (PR) system, boasting over 48% of the vote share by the same evening.

Should this trend persist, the party is poised to achieve nearly a two-thirds majority, approximately 184 seats, in the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament.

India had played a supportive role in facilitating Nepal's elections this year by supplying 650 vehicles and other election materials. This assistance has been ongoing since the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, during which India provided a total of 2,400 vehicles for previous elections.

In its election manifesto, the RSP highlighted the need to renew Nepal's developmental partnership with India, focusing on enabling Nepal to leverage India's significant advancements over the past decade in sectors such as digital public infrastructure, high-quality physical infrastructure, the formalization of the economy, and the enhancement of state capacity.

The party also committed to pursuing a "balanced and dynamic diplomacy" aimed at transforming the shifting global geopolitical landscape and the emergence of neighboring powers into opportunities for Nepal's development, while prioritizing Nepal's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests.

“Considering the strategic interests of neighboring countries and the dynamics of the global power balance, we are determined to convert Nepal from a 'buffer state' into a 'vibrant bridge,' ensuring national interests through trilateral economic partnerships and connectivity,” the manifesto states.

Relations between Nepal and India have been marked by fluctuations in recent years, with tensions arising from the 2015 Constitution and the political maps issued by both countries, which include disputed territories such as Kalapani, Lipulek, and Limpiyadhura along Nepal's western border.

These border disputes have consistently strained bilateral relations for decades. Nepal has also sought amendments to the Nepal–India Friendship Treaty of 1950, arguing that it undermines its sovereignty.

The RSP has pledged to engage in diplomatic initiatives to address these challenges.

“We will embark on high-level diplomatic efforts to find permanent solutions to border disputes and long-standing treaties through formal dialogues based on facts and evidence, rather than confining them to sentiment or rhetoric,” the manifesto asserted.