Kathmandu (PTI): Sending a strong message to Maoists in India to shun violence, Prachanda on Saturday said the Leftist rebels' electoral triumph in Nepal should make them understand the difference between ballot and bullet.

"Our behaviour, our policy, our practice itself strongly gave the message to the Maoists of India. Though, we don't want to directly address them, the benefit we have got, the difference of ballot and bullet has already sent a message," the Maoist chief told Karan Thapar here in an interview for CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.

Prachanda, believed to be Nepal's prime minister-in- waiting, was asked what advice he would give to the Maoists in India.

"There should be a serious discussion in the matter inside the Maoists of India. A strong message has already gone to the Maoists of India and Maoists all over the world about our victory," said the 53-year-old CPN-Maoist chief, who led a decade-long armed struggle against monarchy before joining political mainstream in 2006.

Asked whether he would like India to persuade the US to take the Maoists off the terror list, said "I won't request them but expect them to do it".

"In fact, we already have contact with the US administration," he said.