Bidya Devi Bhandari returns to CPN-UML leadership in Nepal

Bhandari’s return marks a sharp reversal for the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist. Just last year, the party’s central committee explicitly barred former presidents from membership, arguing that someone who had served as a national figurehead should remain above partisan ranks. Internal directives previously dismissed the possibility of her return, labeling her a "jewel of the nation" who should live with dignity outside the political fray.

However, the party leadership shifted its stance this September. Chairman KP Sharma Oli utilized specific constitutional articles to override previous restrictions, cementing Bhandari’s position as the second-highest authority in the party. Her re-entry arrives at a volatile time for the organization as it navigates the fallout from recent election defeats. Supporters hope her presence will stabilize internal power dynamics, though critics view the move as a disruption to the established order under Oli. Bhandari, who began her political career in 1978, has a long history with the movement, having served as a parliamentarian following the death of her husband, Madan Bhandari, in 1993.