During a week-long meeting of the Nepali Congress central committee held in Sanepa, leaders strongly raised concerns that former presidents should not return to active party politics.
The central committee meeting, which began on June 30 and concluded on July 7. Even as the meeting drew to a close, leaders emphasized that the party should formally take note of former presidents returning to politics. However, the party did not include the issue in its written decisions.
Former president Bidya Devi Bhandari returned to active politics in the CPN-UML on June 28, which marked Madan Bhandari’s birth anniversary.
“I have renewed my party membership and rejoined the UML as a member,” she said at the time.
The issue of the former president’s return to politics has created ripples not only within the UML, but also among the Nepali Congress and other parties.
During the NC central committee meeting, leaders urged party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to take note of the former president’s return to politics. While Deuba did not include it in the party’s formal decisions, it has emerged that he raised the issue during a meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
On Tuesday, Deuba, accompanied by NC Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, visited Baluwatar and drew attention to the issue of former president Bhandari’s return to party politics at a meeting with Prime Minister Oli, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, and Deputy General Secretary Bishnu Rimal.
The NC has formally objected to Bhandari’s political comeback. Citing the issue of her renewing UML membership being raised in the NC central committee meeting, Deuba noted that it was a matter linked to the system itself.
“Our central committee has taken note of the former president entering politics,” a source quoted Deuba as telling PM Oli. “The Congress concludes that this is not about strengthening or weakening a party but an attack on the system.”
Deuba further stated: “The president is also the supreme commander of the Nepal Army. As someone who has served as the supreme commander of the Nepal Army, she (Bidya Devi Bhandari) should not be allowed to enter party politics. Can someone who has been the supreme commander become a party leader? The knowledge gained as the head of state cannot be erased from the mind. Security is provided to prevent that knowledge from being exposed. Would that be misused or not? What is she being greedy for? What is she trying to achieve? Why did she renew her UML membership?”
In response, Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli clarified that Bhandari’s return to active politics was not UML’s desire. “It was not our wish. We couldn’t prohibit an individual’s choice,” Oli told Deuba. “Even our party did not accept the former president’s return to politics.”
Deuba countered, “She (Bhandari) should not be allowed to enter politics. This is not just about the Congress or UML. Doesn’t the system need the people’s trust? Even if it’s an individual’s right, shouldn’t there be a moral ground?”
Oli responded, clarifying that Bhandari was institutionally not part of any UML body. “Institutionally, she is not in any body of the party. She has only announced the renewal of her party membership,” Oli said.
Deuba further warned that bringing the former president back into politics would be harmful. “She cannot be brought into party politics like this. You need to make a decision,” Deuba said. “This is a harmful matter.”
During the Baluwatar meeting, Deuba briefed that the NC central committee had decided to strengthen the current coalition.
Former NC vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi, speaking at the central committee meeting on July 6, urged the party to take note of the former president’s return to politics.
He said, “An issue has arisen, Mr President, about a retired president returning to politics. For UML, it may be about internal competition, but I believe this is not just an internal matter of one party. It is related to the system. In the system we have established, a retired president cannot return to politics. We might be happy if the UML splits or disintegrates, but that’s a separate matter. The Congress must take note of this for the system’s sake.”
On Monday, NC General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma criticized former president Bhandari’s leap into politics during the central committee meeting.
“When our president spoke in Chitwan about uniting Congress upon retirement, it was widely praised. It’s commendable that he wants to unite the party,” Sharma said. “I urge the president to play a guardian’s role after retirement. At a time when the former president (Bidya Devi Bhandari) has jumped into politics after leaving the Shital Niwas, the country truly needs guardianship.”
On July 6, leader Chandra Bhandari, speaking at the central committee, also said that former presidents and vice-presidents returning to active politics would increase public disillusionment.
“When those who have served as president or vice-president return to party politics with a receipt, it breeds resentment and criticism,” he said.
Former vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun has also become active in the CPN (Maoist Center), which appointed him vice-chairman on April 6.
