London, Aug 12 - Nepal's former prime minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal Prachanda claims India thought he was closer to Communist China than to India, but says it was wrong to think so.

Prachanda, who resigned as prime minister in May after less nine than months in office, said he wanted good relations with both of Nepal's giant neighbours - India and China.

In an interview with the BBC in London Tuesday, Prachanda acknowledged that India supported the dialogue between his Maoists and other political parties after Nepal's King Gyandendra assumed direct power in 2005.

But then, he said, New Delhi lost its warmth toward the Maoists when elections resulted in him becoming prime minister in August 2008.

Prachanda, who is chairman of the opposition party Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M), is in the British capital on a private visit.