KATHMANDU, JULY 20
CPN-UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held a one-on-one meeting with former President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the party's central office in Lalitpur today. The meeting comes on the eve of the UML Central Committee session.
Emerging from the meeting, Bhandari briefly interacted with the media, stating that they discussed contemporary national political issues. "I only held talks regarding national politics with him," she said, adding, "You will learn about other matters through the party's official channel."
She also confirmed to the press that she has renewed her party membership.
The meeting between the ruling party chairman and the former Head of State lasted for nearly an hour and a half. This marked Bhandari's first visit to the UML headquarters since completing her term as President. She was welcomed by UML Vice-President Surendra Pandey and Central Office Secretary Dr. Bhisma Adhikari.
Bhandari, a former UML Vice-Chair, has publicly announced her return to active politics-a move that has triggered mixed reactions within the party. The issue was extensively discussed during recent meetings of the UML secretariat and politburo, and it was reportedly raised again in today's meeting with the party leadership.
While a faction of the party supports her return, the majority of politburo members in yesterday's meeting expressed opposition. They argued that a former President, having held the nation's highest constitutional post, should refrain from re-engaging in partisan politics.
(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)
