KATHMANDU: The ruling CPN-UML suspended standing committee member Dr. Binda Pandey and central committee member Usha Kiran Timalsina, while simultaneously inducting Bibha Basnet, winner of the international beauty pageant “Mrs. Heritage International 2024,” into the party.
On the party’s website, the UML listed Pandey and Timalsina, suspended during a secretariat meeting on December 26, alongside Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who is currently imprisoned for his involvement in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.
Dr. Pandey has responded to the suspension by committing to writing a new book during her six-month hiatus.
She refrained from criticizing the party leadership despite the disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, Timalsina was in Nuwakot working on party activities when the suspension was announced.
On the same day as Pandey’s suspension, UML Chair KP Sharma Oli visited Parsa and brought former JSP leader Pradeep Jayaswal into UML.
Later, Oli returned to Kathmandu to preside over another induction ceremony at the UML central office in Chyasal.
During the event, Oli welcomed Bibha Basnet, the winner of “Mrs. Heritage International 2024,” along with former Nepal Jaycees president Rabin Pokharel and other youth leaders.
Bibha had recently represented Nepal at the international beauty pageant in Bangkok, where she won the coveted title.
Basnet, along with Shivani Gautam and Gayatri B.C , expressed their commitment to contribute to the nation under Oli’s leadership, citing his visionary approach to governance.
This move follows UML’s history of bringing public figures, including singers and actors, into the party.
Notable examples include Komal Oli, who became a federal parliamentarian, and Karishma Manandhar, who has yet to leverage her political involvement.
The induction event was attended by UML Deputy General Secretary Bishnu Prasad Rimal, organization chief Kashi Nath Adhikari, and Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal.
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