KATHMANDU: As preparations intensify for the 11th General Convention of CPN-UML, Senior Vice-Chair Ishwar Pokharel has pledged to reinstate former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership.
Pokharel made the commitment while announcing his candidacy for the UML chairmanship on Monday, stressing that denying Bhandari membership would be politically harmful for the party. He stressed that her decades-long contribution to building the party must be respected.
“Creating an environment for her return to the party is a responsibility of the leadership. I am committed to ensuring that a decision is made on this matter,” Pokharel said.
He added that his leadership vision aims to strengthen the party ideologically, unify it organizationally, and institutionalize a culture of leadership transition.
Pokharel’s candidacy for chair sets the stage for a potential contest with current party Chair KP Sharma Oli. He also highlighted the party’s crucial role in upholding the constitution, democracy, and organizational reform following the September 8–9 Gen-Z protests.
The 11th UML General Convention is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from December 13–15.
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