Former President Bhandari hasn’t renewed party membership: UML

KATHMANDU: The Organizational Department of CPN-UML has stated that former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has not renewed her party membership.

The involvement of former President Bhandari in various party activities in recent days has fueled rumors that the former UML Vice Chairperson might be returning to active politics. However, Madhav Dhungel, the secretary of UML’s Organizational Department, has claimed that Bhandari’s party membership has not been renewed.

“Bhandari became the President as a UML leader. However, she quit the party after her election to the position. As the President and the guardian of nationality and democracy, her role is evident to all Nepali people,” Dhungel said. “She won’t return to active politics just to grab the position of other leaders or invite chaos. However, we believe that she will not refuse if the situation demands.”

Dhungel also claimed that Bhandari has the right to become a permanent guardian of the CPN-UML. He addressed the criticism after Bhandari’s active involvement in party activities, saying, “It is not appropriate to create a narrative that a former president cannot speak or engage in political activities.”

He also said that Bhandari’s party membership would be renewed whenever she wishes.