A month after becoming the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' arrived in New Delhi [Images] on Sunday on his first visit, which is expected to reshape the Himalayan country's relations with India.

The Maoist leader, who will be in India for five days, was received by Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmed at the Indira Gandhi [Images] International Airport in New Delhi.

Prachanda will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Monday, particularly reviewing the 1950 bilateral Trade and Transit Treaty, which the Nepalese leader wants to be replaced by a new one.

"I firmly believe that the 1950 treaty should be replaced by a new treaty," the first Nepalese Prime Minister after abolition of monarchy said ahead of his visit here.

The new Prachanda-led Nepalese government feels that the Treaty, which governs relationship between the two countries in most of the aspects, is not favourable to Kathmandu.

The two sides will also discuss the 1954 Kosi [Images] River agreement, which governs usage of the water of the common river which flows into India from Nepal.

A breach in the embankment of the river in Nepal recently caused devastating floods in Bihar, prompting calls in India that the treaty needed to be implemented properly so that such calamities are averted.

Under the Kosi treaty, which provides for flood control, irrigation management and hydro-power generation, the Bihar government has been entrusted with the task of managing river Kosi for 199 years -- till 2153. The funds for repair of embankments are provided by the Water Resources Ministry.

The Kosi Treaty requires an 'honest implementation' to benefit both Nepal and India, Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz said here recently in the wake of floods.

Singh is expected to take up with Prachanda the issue of security for Indian assets and personnel, particularly that of engineers working on detailed project reports on the construction of Saptakosi and Sunkosi dam projects in upstream Nepal in view of threats from Maoists.

The two sides will also discuss ways to increase economic cooperation.

The 53-year-old Maoist leader, who led a decade-long armed agitation against the monarchy before joining the political mainstream last year, will visit the memorial of the apostle of peace Mahatma Gandhi [Images] at Rajghat on Monday.

He will also interact with leaders of Indian business and industry, outlining his vision of cooperation expected in the field.

Soon after assuming charge of Prime Minister, Prachanda had travelled to China to attend the concluding ceremony of the Beijing [Images] Olympics [Images] on August 24.

This had led to questions here as to whether the new government of Nepal was tilting more towards China considering Maoists' perceived leaning towards the communist country.

Prachanda, however, had sought to downplay the issue, saying his visit to China was only for the Beijing Olympics and that his first political visit will be to India.

Nepal has traditionally enjoyed close relations with India.

Image: Nepal Prime Minister being welcomed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Reportage: PTI | Photograph: PTI Photo