The US will continue to engage with India on key issues, whichever party comes to power, a senior US official told the Press Trust of India.
The US government has issued instructions across all departments to identify key areas that they would like to take up with the new Indian government after the elections, the official said, adding that relations with India “transcend” personalities and political parties.
"Let's see what the Indian voters decide... Once the Indian voters decide and we have a government then I will be able to tell you how we are engaging that government. But I will tell you, whatever the Indian voters decide, whatever government comes to power, the US will engage that government, because we have long-term biding national strategic and economic interest in India." the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"On foreign affairs you would see a very great desire by the United States to continue its coordination with India in the neighbourhood, and in the broader region around India going west and going east,
"Given how important India is our partner and a friend, on a priority basis, we are going to have to make sure that all of the counterparts on our side, develop good relationship with their counterparts on the Indian side,
"Most important from my perspective is make sure that all of our Cabinet officers are meeting all of their Indian counterparts and develop good relationship. Without good relationship, good bureaucratic relationships, how can you achieve things that you are trying to achieve together," the official said.
"The relationship transcends political parties, transcends personalities. Our work is with the government, people and country of India,
"Ultimately, the national interest remains the same. Personalities may change, little bit of flavour here and there. But the national interest remains the same. I think that is true at the Indian side as well," the official added.
The official said it is up to the Indian government to make decisions about what it needs to do to take its economy forward, adding that the American private sector has made its views clear that it would like to see greater opening in defence, in retail, in agriculture, in financial system.
"But these are decisions for the Indian government to make. We will certainly advocate the views of our companies, but I think in terms of government-to-government actual to-do list - things that we should do together - a bilateral investment treaty makes a lot of sense.”