Former Nepal President Bidya Bhandari Returns to Active Politics
Former Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari rejoins active politics as a senior leader in CPN-UML, overturning previous party restrictions.
In a significant shift in Nepal's political landscape, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has officially returned to active politics. After a nearly three-year hiatus following the completion of her second term as the country's highest constitutional head, Bhandari has assumed a senior leadership role within the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML).
The historic move took place on Thursday in Lalitpur, where Bhandari took her oath as a senior leader at the CPN-UML party office. Immediately following the ceremony, she participated in the party's Standing Committee meeting, marking her formal re-entry into the political fray.
A U-Turn in Party Policy
Bhandari’s return follows a period of intense internal debate within the CPN-UML regarding the status of former heads of state. When she completed her presidential tenure on March 9, 2023, the party had initially resisted her return to active membership.
Last year, the UML Central Committee had passed a directive stating that former presidents should maintain their dignity as "jewels of the nation" rather than returning to serve as party cadres. The internal directive, known as 'Apani', had explicitly argued:
"Respected former President Bidya Devi Bhandari should live honoured as a pride of the nation. She should not come into active politics. CPN (UML) should not make a person who has been a leader of the entire nation a cadre."
However, in a dramatic reversal, the party's Central Committee met in the first week of September this year and overturned the previous decision. This policy shift was formalized by UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli through Inter-Party Directive-3, which officially incorporated Bhandari into the leadership hierarchy.
New Power Dynamics in CPN-UML
Bhandari’s new position is not merely symbolic. Under the new appointment, she has been ranked as the second most powerful figure in the party, trailing only Chairman KP Sharma Oli. This elevation comes at a critical juncture for the CPN-UML, which is currently navigating discussions regarding internal restructuring following its defeat in the elections held in March.
Political analysts suggest that her return could significantly alter the internal power equation. While Chairman Oli has maintained long-standing dominance over the party, Bhandari’s high-ranking status introduces a new variable into the leadership structure. Party members generally view her return as a move that could bolster the party's political strength.
From Youth Activism to the Presidency
Bidya Devi Bhandari's political journey has been one of resilience and historic milestones. Her career began in 1978 as an organizer within the youth league of CPN-Male. Following the tragic death of her husband, Madan Bhandari, in a 1993 jeep accident, she entered parliamentary politics through a Kathmandu by-election, where she famously defeated the then-Congress President Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.
As Nepal's first woman President, she served two consecutive terms, representing the nation on the highest constitutional level before her recent decision to return to her political roots.