Former President Bidya Bhandari
KATHMANDU: Despite a visible division between supporters of CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli and former Vice-Chairperson Bidya Devi Bhandari, who is also a former President of the country, a proposal to renew Bhandari’s party membership has been rejected.
A majority of delegates expressed the view that former constitutional officeholders, such as ex-presidents, should not return to active party politics. According to leaders, only about one percent of around 2,321 delegates openly supported Bhandari. While a few voices backed her in some provinces, most provinces showed unified support for Oli’s leadership.
Although Oli has long dominated the party, in recent days, some leaders and cadres have begun aligning with Bhandari. However, the party has already blocked her from assuming leadership roles.
It was anticipated that the convention would discuss the party’s 70-year age limit and Bhandari’s membership. Some leaders believed that the convention could approve her membership, while a few others expected that advocating in her favor might put pressure on the party leadership to renew her membership.
Bhandari herself had visited Koshi and Madhesh provinces to engage with party workers and win their support. She also increased her presence in Kathmandu through the contact office of Madan Bhandari Foundation.
Madan Bhandari’s life and Madhesh politics hold special significance in UML, as the party follows his guiding principle of People’s Multiparty Democracy. Madhesh is the most populous province in the country, and Bhandari had skillfully mobilized support in the province. However, leaders say her support at the convention appeared weak.
According to UML officials, 99% of delegates opposed renewing Bhandari’s membership. The Statute Convention featured group discussions on political, organizational and statute amendment proposals. Rajendra Gautam, head of the party’s Central Publicity and Publication Department, said that 25 delegates opposed the decision not to renew Bhandari’s membership.
Gautam said only 1% of the 2,321 delegates expressed support for Bhandari. “In each group discussion, only 2–3 delegates spoke against the party’s decision not to renew former President Bhandari’s membership. Across all 10 groups, only 25 delegates expressed support for Bhandari,” he added.
In Koshi Province, out of 316 provincial delegates, only 75 provided written or oral feedback. Of them, Central Committee members Yubaraj Baskota and Tara Devi Rai advocated for renewing Bhandari’s membership, according to UML Koshi Province Committee Chairperson Ghanshyam Khatiwada.
“Most delegates argued, both verbally and in writing, that anyone who has resigned from party membership and held the highest offices—President, Vice-President or Chief Justice—should not return to active party politics. This, they said, should not only be a party rule but also be enshrined in the Constitution,” he added.
In Madhesh Province, only three out of 227 delegates openly supported Bhandari. Among 35 delegates who spoke, Arbindra Singh and others emphasized that the party should reconsider the decision not to grant membership to the former President.
Likewise, only 11 out of 361 delegates from Bagmati Province were in favor of renewing Bhandari’s membership. Those advocating for her also acknowledged that she could not currently be considered an alternative to Oli’s leadership, said Polutburo Member Parbat Gurung.
In Gandaki Province, only Dibesh Lamsal and Bidya Bhattarai out of 188 delegates support Bhandari. UML’s Gandaki Secretary Dhananjay Dawadi said the apparent disagreement over Bhandari’s membership was exaggerated and did not threaten party unity.
Lumbini Province, with 217 delegates, was near unanimous that constitutional officeholders should not return to active politics. Only Leela Giri, Top Bahadur Oli and Pujan Bishwakarma argued for renewing Bhandari’s membership.
Karnali Province, which has 132 delegates, unanimously supported the party’s stance that former Presidents and constitutional officeholders should not re-enter active politics, according to Standing Committee member Gorakh Bahadur Bogati.
Five out of 180 delegates from Sudurpashchim spoke in favor of Bhandari’s membership. They included Jhapat Rawal, Prakash Shah, Daisy Pandey, Sher Bahadur Malla and Tapendra Rawal, according to Central Committee member Lal Bahadur Thapa.
Other groups, which included representatives from the special province of the Kathmandu Valley, affiliated organizations, coordination offices and the central advisory council, also supported the party’s decisions. Similarly, the 10th group, which included nominated central committee members and organizers, unanimously opposed allowing the former president to return to active politics.
