New Delhi: Nepal’s main opposition party Nepali Congress endorsing Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s constitutional amendment, the move to update Nepal’s map to include Limplyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani in the national emblem is likely to go through with the required 2/3^rd majority, a development that will worsen the crisis in India and Nepal relations.

If the amendment goes to Parliament, it will serve to shore up Oli’s Nationalist credentials, and the anti- India stands that goes with it, and helps him ward up challenges from within his party which had eroded his authority. The day for passing the amendment has not yet been set, but it’s likely to be soon. Rashtriya Praja Tantra Party has already backed the bill, as have Samajbadi Janata Party Nepal and Rashtriya Janata Party Nepal. Oli, who had been under siege from senior leader in the Communist camp, had seize on the formal opening of a road by India to the Lipulekh pass to ramp of sentiments over the border claim.

The area in Pithoragars has been part of India since Independence and even before. But Nepal has raised arguments based on claims as regards the origin and tributaries Kali River. Despite Modi’s repeated outreach to Nepal managing ties has been a challenge, the situation become more fraught after Oli began to turn towards China, even for his own political survival.