KATHMANDU: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has left for Bangkok, Thailand, on a week-long private visit.
Accompanied by a team of five, including her daughter Usha Kiran and security officer Madhu Sah, Bhandari departed on a Nepal Airlines flight (RA-401) at 11:38 am on Monday.
Several UML leaders, including Standing Committee members Bhanubhakta Dhakal and Kashinath Adhikari, were present at the VIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport to bid her farewell.
Bhandari’s secretariat has clarified that the visit is purely personal and primarily for a medical check-up.
“She has been receiving treatment for her hip issue in Bangkok for years. This trip is a follow-up check-up and nothing more,” a member of her secretariat said.
The visit comes amid speculation about Bhandari’s possible return to active politics. Recently, she toured Gandaki and Koshi provinces, engaging with the public, fueling talks of her political re-engagement. However, her secretariat has denied any political motives behind her Bangkok visit.
Bhandari is expected to return in a week.
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