On his first official visit to India, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday met leaders across the political spectrum and discussed issues of bilateral interest.

Prachanda called on President Pratibha Patil [Images] and Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Besides holding talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], he met Congress President and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi [Images] and leader of the opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani [Images].

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was the first minister to meet him on Monday morning and discussed issues of bilateral interest.

Earlier, Prachanda, who till last year led a bloody armed anti-monarchy agitation in Nepal, paid obeisance at the memorial to the apostle of peace Mahatma Gandhi [Images].

Prachanda will meet Left leaders tomorrow and attend a luncheon meeting with Janata Dal-United president and Chairman of Nepal-India Parliamentary Forum Sharad Yadav.

He also interacted with leaders of Indian business and industry and outlined his vision of cooperation expected in the field.

Soon after assuming office, Prachanda had travelled to China to attend the concluding ceremony of the Beijing [Images] Olympics [Images] which led to questions here as to whether the new Nepal government was tilting towards China considering Maoists' perceived leaning towards the communist country.