Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Rastriya Swatantra Party chairman Rabi Lamichhane, signalling New Delhi’s outreach to Nepal’s emerging political forces and reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening ties with its Himalayan neighbour.Following the meeting, Modi said that he shared Lamichhane’s vision of working closely together for a “shared and prosperous future” and described Nepal as a priority partner under India’s Neighbourhood First policy.”Delighted to meet the Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party of Nepal Mr Rabi Lamichhane. I welcome and fully share his desire to work closely together for a shared and prosperous future,” Modi said.The Prime Minister added that India looked forward to collaborating with Nepal’s new government to elevate the “special and multifaceted relationship” between the two countries to greater heights.The meeting marked the culmination of a series of high-level engagements undertaken by the Nepalese leader during his visit to New Delhi. On Tuesday, Lamichhane and his delegation held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and senior BJP leaders as part of efforts to deepen political, developmental and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries.Jaishankar had described his discussions with the RSP delegation as productive, saying they focused on the India-Nepal development partnership and the close people-to-people ties that underpin bilateral relations.The visit was organised under the BJP’s “Know BJP” initiative, which familiarises foreign political leaders with the party’s organisational structure, governance model and outreach mechanisms.During interactions at the BJP headquarters, discussions covered democratic institutions, political organisation, youth participation in politics and governance practices. The Nepalese delegation also sought insights into the BJP’s membership model, grassroots mobilisation and leadership development mechanisms.Lamichhane’s engagements come at a time when India and Nepal are seeking to expand cooperation in connectivity, trade, energy and development, while building on deep civilisational, cultural and people-to-people links that form the bedrock of bilateral ties.The RSP, one of Nepal’s fastest-growing political parties, has emerged as a significant force in the country’s political landscape, particularly among younger voters seeking alternatives to traditional political formations.