KATHMANDU: Senior leaders of the CPN-UML have accused party chair KP Sharma Oli of making a misstep regarding the renewal of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership. The issue was raised during the central secretariat meeting held on Thursday.
According to sources, the meeting began with senior vice-chair Ishwar Pokharel presenting a three-page dissenting note. Several other secretariat members then shared their views, warning that blocking Bhandari’s membership could trigger a party-wide backlash.
Vice-Chairs Yubaraj Gyawali and Surendra Pandey, along with secretariat members Gokarna Bista, Yogesh Bhattarai, and Padma Aryal, reportedly argued that Bhandari’s membership should not be blocked. Similarly, Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali hinted at reconsidering her membership.
Even Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, considered aligned with Oli, reportedly advocated maintaining Bhandari’s membership, saying that blocking it could generate negative perceptions of UML among the public.
Sources said that senior leaders, including Pokharel, Pandey, Gyawali, and Bista, said the party should reinstate Bhandari with respect and her rightful status. “It wasn’t just us; even Comrade Badal spoke in her favor. This time, the party chair erred,” one top UML leader told Khabarhub.
Oli, however, reportedly responded that the matter was not a current priority, stressing that the central committee’s decision from July would stand.
“The key issue now is the preparation for the party statute convention. Decisions already made by the central committee will hold. Additional discussions can happen later,” Oli said.
UML Vice-Chair Surendra Pandey told reporters that the party can function smoothly only after resolving the controversy surrounding the former president’s membership.
“Comrade Ishwar submitted a three-page note, and many leaders spoke. I repeatedly emphasized that her membership should be renewed and she should be welcomed back,” Pandey said.
Secretariat member Padma Aryal clarified that Bhandari’s membership renewal was not on Thursday’s agenda. “Some leaders expressed views in writing and verbally, but no formal discussion took place. The meeting focused on other reports,” she said.
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