Nepal’s former President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday (June 28, 2025) introduced that she has rejoined active politics by renewing her membership of the ruling CPN-UML, practically a decade after she left the get together to assume the nation’s high constitutional submit.
Ms. Bhandari, 62, made the announcement whereas addressing a programme organised in Kathmandu by the Madan Bhandari Foundation to mark the 74th start anniversary of her late husband and former Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) General Secretary Madan Bhandari.
“I have renewed my membership of CPN-UML with an objective of giving continuity to the party’s political journey,” Ms. Bhandari mentioned on the operate, which was additionally attended by Prime Minister Okay. P. Oli.
Mr. Oli can also be the incumbent chairman of CPN-UML.
“Now, I am reunited with the CPN-UML as a member of this family, and I feel proud of this,” Ms. Bhandari mentioned.
The former President’s return to active politics comes amid rising hypothesis about her future position throughout the CPN-UML. Over the previous few months, she has been holding interactions with get together leaders and cadres throughout the nation, fuelling rumours that she could also be eyeing a bigger position in get together management.
Political specialists opine that Ms. Bhandari’s choice to rejoin CPN-UML may pose a risk to Mr. Oli, who’s having fun with “a kind of monopoly” within the ruling get together.
Quoting get together insiders, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported that Ms. Bhandari may problem Mr. Oli in CPN-UML’s subsequent normal conference. Mr. Oli, who has led the get together since 2014, is alleged to be searching for a 3rd time period as chief.
Speaking on the identical occasion, Prime Minister Oli asserted that CPN-UML was united and warned towards makes an attempt to divide it.
Without naming anybody, he mentioned, “Do not dream of splitting the UML.”
Mr. Oli additionally urged get together members to give attention to the subsequent normal elections, scheduled to be held in 2027-28.
Adding to the political significance of her transfer, Ms. Bhandari lately undertook a 10-day go to to China from May 24, throughout which she held conferences with high-ranking officers.
The go to drew consideration in Nepal, with observers deciphering it as an effort to enhance her political clout.
Ms. Bhandari’s re-entry into get together politics has sparked debate in Nepal’s political circles.
It just isn’t widespread for a former President to return to get together politics, though there could also be no authorized restriction, senior journalist and political analyst Dhurva Hari Adhikary mentioned.
It might elevate ethical questions, even when it stays a private choice, he added.
Ms. Bhandari served as Nepal’s President for 2 consecutive phrases between 2015 and 2023. She had relinquished her get together membership after being elected to the largely ceremonial submit in October 2015, changing into the nation’s first girl Head of State.
Before her elevation to the presidency, Ms. Bhandari was a senior CPN-UML chief and had served because the get together’s vice-chairperson. She was additionally the Defence Minister within the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led authorities in 2009.
Ms. Bhandari is the widow of Madan Bhandari, a preferred Marxist chief who died in a controversial jeep accident in 1993. The incident was extensively seen as suspicious, and investigations on the time failed to conclusively set up the reason for the crash.
