The Madan Bhandari Foundation is organizing an event on Saturday at the Rastriya Sabha Griha (City Hall) in Kathmandu to mark Madan Memorial Day. The event has become a moment of significant anticipation in the internal dynamics of the CPN-UML.
Despite the unchallenged influence of UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the party, former president Bidya Devi Bhandari is preparing to return to active politics, even against Oli's wishes.
UML leaders close to Bhandari have said that Bhandari will announce her return to active politics during Saturday's event.
Bhandari, wife of the late Madan Bhandari, has long been recognized as a close ally of Oli within the UML.
Bhandari served two terms as president with Oli's support. Leaders close to her have revealed that she will announce her return to active politics on the occasion of her late husband’s 74th birth anniversary.
"She is preparing to announce her return to active politics tomorrow," UML standing committee member Karna Bahadur Thapa told Setopati. "She has already met with the party chairman and urged him to cooperate. Tomorrow, she will publicly state the same."
Thapa, who has become close to Bhandari in recent times, said that the Constitution, laws, and party statute do not bar the former president from returning to active politics.
"There are rumors that preparations are being made to obstruct her. Discussions may continue on it, but she will speak tomorrow," Thapa said.
UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel himself has proposed preventing former presidents from becoming party members by introducing restrictive provisions in the party statute.
During the UML’s 53rd secretariat meeting held on Wednesday, Pokharel argued that while the republic is under attack from all quarters, the former president’s return to party politics would worsen the situation.
He proposed amending the party statute to block Bhandari, but the matter was shelved as no one spoke in support.
Prime Minister Oli will also attend Saturday's event. The prime minister is scheduled to leave for Spain on Saturday. UML leaders said that he might address the event and depart soon after.
