New Delhi: The sudden resignation of the US ambassador to India less than two years into her troubled term opens an opportunity for both sides to reboot strained ties ahead of an expected change in government, analysts say.
Nancy Powell, US ambassador since 2012, had a torrid time at the helm of one of Washington's most important diplomatic missions as it became embroiled in one of the most serious downturns in relations in decades.
New Delhi was incensed in late December when Devyani Khobragade, an Indian diplomat in New York was arrested, strip-searched and then pursued in court over allegations that she violated visa rules by underpaying a maid.
While managing this, Ms Powell was also central to a sharp - some say belated - change in US policy over opposition leader Narendra Modi who is tipped to emerge as prime minister after national elections starting next Monday.
In February, long after European powers had re-engaged, Ms Powell called upon the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at his office in Gujarat.
The reasons for Ms Powell's exit have been explained by the US State Department as her simply deciding to end her distinguished career early and retire to her home in Delaware state.
On his visit to India in 2010, Obama called the budding strategic relationship between the United States and India as "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century".
"The change (at the US embassy) is coming at a time when there is a downturn in the relationship," former Indian diplomat G. Parthasarathy told AFP.
Nancy Powell, US ambassador since 2012, had a torrid time at the helm of one of Washington's most important diplomatic missions as it became embroiled in one of the most serious downturns in relations in decades.
New Delhi was incensed in late December when Devyani Khobragade, an Indian diplomat in New York was arrested, strip-searched and then pursued in court over allegations that she violated visa rules by underpaying a maid.
While managing this, Ms Powell was also central to a sharp - some say belated - change in US policy over opposition leader Narendra Modi who is tipped to emerge as prime minister after national elections starting next Monday.
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In February, long after European powers had re-engaged, Ms Powell called upon the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at his office in Gujarat.
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The reasons for Ms Powell's exit have been explained by the US State Department as her simply deciding to end her distinguished career early and retire to her home in Delaware state.
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On his visit to India in 2010, Obama called the budding strategic relationship between the United States and India as "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century".
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"The change (at the US embassy) is coming at a time when there is a downturn in the relationship," former Indian diplomat G. Parthasarathy told AFP.
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