Prachanda arrives in New Delhi

NEW DELHI: Nepal’s brand new prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, arrived in India on Sunday on a four-day visit, the first since the country threw out the monarchy and declared itself a republic.

The Maoist leader created ripples in New Delhi when he preferred to travel to Beijing on his first trip abroad since assuming office. The general rule for Nepalese PMs  is to first rush here, considering India is the gateway for landlocked Nepal.

Prachanda broke with tradition and attended the closing ceremony of the Olympic games in Beijing, signaling that despite the Maoists aversion to  King Gyanendra and the Shah dynasty, he is not averse to following the line long pursued by Nepal’s royalty, using the China card against India.