Tharoor meets Nepal's Sumnima Udas in parliamentary diplomacy push
Synopsis
Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor met Sumnima Udas, Chair of Nepal's parliamentary International Relations and Tourism Committee, renewing a connection that began when Udas was a CNN journalist in Delhi. Tharoor noted that nearly half of Nepal's parliamentarians are first-termers, signalling a generational shift in Kathmandu's legislature.
Key Takeaways
Shashi Tharoor met Sumnima Udas , Chair of Nepal Federal Parliament's International Relations and Tourism Committee.
Tharoor chairs the equivalent committee on the Indian parliamentary side, making this a direct counterpart exchange.
Udas previously worked as a CNN journalist in Delhi , where Tharoor first met her.
Tharoor noted that nearly half of Nepal's parliamentarians are first-term legislators, a legacy of the 2022 elections .
India and Nepal maintain parliamentary exchanges rooted in ties formalised by the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship .
A former CNN journalist who once covered South Asia from Delhi now chairs Nepal's parliamentary committee on international relations — and Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor made a point of reconnecting with her in what he described as an enjoyable bilateral meeting.
Tharoor, who chairs the International Relations and Tourism Committee on the Indian side, met Sumnima Udas, her Nepalese counterpart heading the equivalent committee in Nepal's Federal Parliament. The meeting marks a convergence of two parallel institutional roles that Tharoor noted with evident warmth — he had first known Udas as a young CNN journalist reporting from Delhi.
From newsroom to parliament: Udas's journey to Nepal's foreign affairs chair
Sumnima Udas built her early career covering South Asia for CNN, a beat that would have brought her into contact with the political class she now engages as a legislator. Her rise to chair Nepal's International Relations and Tourism Committee places her at the centre of Kathmandu's parliamentary foreign-policy machinery — a striking arc from journalist to policymaker. Tharoor also flagged a notable structural fact about Nepal's legislature: nearly half of its parliamentarians are first-termers, a fresh cohort that entered after Nepal's 2022 elections reshaped the composition of committees handling foreign affairs and tourism.India-Nepal parliamentary ties and the weight of personal diplomacy
India and Nepal share one of South Asia's most layered bilateral relationships — bound by the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, an open border, deep cultural ties, and interlocking trade and security interests. Parliamentary exchanges have been a steady thread in that fabric since diplomatic relations were established in 1947. Personal connections like the one Tharoor describes — a prior acquaintance that predates both officials' current roles — often do the quiet work that formal diplomacy cannot. They lower the temperature in a room before the agenda even opens. In a neighbourhood where trust between capitals can be fragile, that kind of continuity matters.Point of View
But also less familiar with the established rhythms of bilateral engagement. Sustained committee-level contact, precisely of the kind this meeting represents, is how those new relationships get built.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sumnima Udas and what is her role in Nepal's parliament?
Sumnima Udas is the Chair of the International Relations and Tourism Committee of Nepal's Federal Parliament. Before entering politics, she was a journalist with CNN covering South Asia from Delhi .
Why did Shashi Tharoor meet Sumnima Udas?
Tharoor met Udas in her capacity as his counterpart — both chair their respective parliament's International Relations and Tourism Committees — as part of India-Nepal parliamentary engagement.
What did Tharoor say about Nepal's parliament?
Tharoor noted that nearly half of Nepal's parliamentarians are first-termers, describing them as bringing a fresh perspective to the legislature.
What is the India-Nepal parliamentary relationship?
India and Nepal have maintained parliamentary exchanges since diplomatic relations were established in 1947 , underpinned by the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship and an open border.
What committee does Shashi Tharoor chair in the Indian Parliament?
Dr. Shashi Tharoor chairs the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the Indian Parliament, making Sumnima Udas his direct Nepalese counterpart.
