Former President has not applied for party membership: Oli

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has claimed that former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has not applied for her party membership.

Addressing a party joint program held at the UML headquarters in Chyasal on Friday, Oli said that simply paying a fee at the registration desk does not automatically renew membership. “Does paying the fee at the registration desk mean one automatically gets party membership?” Oli asked. “She has neither applied for party membership nor approached the party to renew it.”

Oli also said he had not anticipated such an issue would arise after Bhandari completed her presidential term. “I never imagined that someone who has served as president twice would create such problems,” he said.

The UML Chairperson also expressed dissatisfaction over the opening of a separate office to mark the 75th birth anniversary of Madan Bhandari. “Who would open an office now to celebrate a birth anniversary next year? Why is there a need for celebration by mobilizing those who are dissatisfied and are working against the party?”

Oli was referring to the opening of an office by the Madan Bhandari Foundation to prepare for the the 75th birth anniversary of Madan Bhandari.