Himal Press 
BUTWAL: CPN-UML’s Senior Leader Bidya Devi Bhandari has called for a ruthless review of the party’s leadership, working style and the communist movement.
Attending her first formal CPN-UML party event in Rupandehi on Tuesday after returning to active politics and being appointed the party’s Senior Leader, Bhandari said saying the leftist forces should work toward unity.
Bhandari had given up active politics after she was elected President of the country. She served as the President from 2015 to 2023. The former CPN-UML Vice Chairperson showed interests to return to active politics right after she completed her presidential term. However, Oli blocked her move initially, saying that it was wrong for a person who has held the country’s highest constitutional post to return to active party politics.
The UML Central Committee recently endorsed her nomination as Senior Leader, placing her second in the party hierarchy after Chairperson KP Sharma Oli. Bhandari, however, does not have voting rights.
Speaking at the event organized by the party’s Rupandehi District Committee, Bhandari said she had been uncertain about whether to take up a party responsibility but agreed to become Senior Leader following requests from party leaders and considering her past contributions to the party.
“I have returned to take responsibility again to build the party and the country. After reaching the highest constitutional position, I have no desire for any post or personal interest,” she said.
Bhandari said she was not new to the UML and had remained outside active party politics for some time because she was serving in a national role.
UML Secretary Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya and other provincial and district-level leaders attended the program, according to UML Rupandehi Chairperson Yagya Gaire.
Bhandari had arrived in Butwal to inaugurate the second edition of the Madan Bhandari Cup International Invitational Running Shield Men’s Volleyball Tournament, organized by the Madan Bhandari Foundation.
