Nepali PM seeks to meet Manmohan on Saarc summit sidelines

Nepal's caretaker Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who is scheduled to attend the 15th Saarc Summit in Colombo this week amid uproar among the political parties, is seeking a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the regional meet.
The meeting between the two premiers is likely to trigger another controversy in Nepal with the Maoists regarding the wily politician, considered New Delhi's favourite, with wariness.
A chastened Koirala was forced to pare his jumbo 35-member delegation, which would have cost the cash-strapped nation dependent on foreign aid Nepali Rs 7.3 million, to only 10 members after an uproar on Wednesday among the major parties as well as in the caretaker parliament.
However, the team still includes his daughter, minister without portfolio Sujata Koirala, whose inclusion was opposed by the Maoists on the ground that she lost the April election. Koirala's personal physician, secretary and adviser on foreign affairs are also in the entourage.
Though officially Nepal wants to discuss enhanced investment and hydropower issues with India, the Maoists feel Koirala would also try to gauge the extent of Indian support for him and his Nepali Congress (NC) party.
The bilateral meeting between Koirala and Singh is likely to have a crucial effect on Nepal's future politics.