Kathmandu, April 10: Nepal's neighbour India, which had been advocating that the critical constituent assembly election be held at the earliest, Thursday became the first foreign government to hail the holding of the twice-deferred polls.

Navtej Sarna, the spokesperson at India's external affairs ministry, issued a statement, calling the "successful" constituent assembly election in Nepal a "welcome and historic step towards realizing the aspirations of the people of Nepal for a democratic future".

"This happy outcome is a product of the determination of the people of Nepal, with significant contributions by the political parties and the Election Commission of Nepal," the statement said.

Saying that the constituent assembly would provide a platform for the people of Nepal to determine the manner of their governance and their future, India reiterated its commitment to stand by the people of Nepal in "the major tasks of democratization and development that lie ahead while building a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nepal".