KATHMANDU: “After the demise of the people’s leader, when the party and I, along with the entire nation, were plunged into grief, the party made me a competitor in the Kathmandu parliamentary by-election. I felt that while my parents gave me my first birth, the people of Kathmandu gave me my second birth as Bidya Bhandari.”
A wave of immense enthusiasm swept through party workers as former President Bidya Devi Bhandari announced her return to CPN (UML) politics. On Saturday, they filled the Rashtriya Sabha Griha with thunderous applause and chanted slogans: “Long live People’s Multi-Party Democracy!”
As she made this announcement, the former President’s voice sounded on the verge of breaking, her words as if spoken with parched lips. She suppressed her emotions amidst the cadres’ applause and stated, “Thanks to the love and trust of the people and the party’s confidence, I even won the election. As a daughter of the people, I had resolved from that very moment to dedicate my entire life to the nation.”
At the “Three Decades of People’s Multi-Party Democracy” national seminar organized by the Madan Bhandari Foundation, former President Bhandari stated that she had prioritized the nation’s interests during her presidency.
She announced her rejoining the CPN (UML) and the renewal of her party membership.
Former President Bhandari mentioned that it had been over two years since she stepped away from the responsibility of serving her homeland and people in a different capacity.
During this period, she visited various parts of the country and interacted with people about the nation’s socio-economic development.
Former President Bhandari also mentioned meeting experts from various fields at her own residence.
“The conclusion drawn from these discussions is that the responsibility of building a socialist society based on social justice and equality to make the people happy and the nation prosperous has not yet been fulfilled,” former President Bhandari said, adding, “Therefore, everyone must take the initiative to bear this profound responsibility. Since I stepped down from the role of President, and especially more recently, I have noticed that the media and party workers have shown interest in my future social and political life.”
She noted observing discussions about her in public media and social networks, stating that she had deeply contemplated these public concerns and reached a conclusion.
She said, “Because it is a patriotic, nationalist, and progressive party, I have been associated with first the ML and now the CPN (UML) since I was a school student, engaging in socio-economic transformation campaigns. In fact, at that time, I had already resolved to serve the nation and its people for life by joining the party.”
After being relieved of a different kind of political responsibility, former President Bhandari announced that she renewed her party membership with the sacred objective of continuing her political journey within the CPN (UML).
“Now I am reconnected as a member of the CPN (UML) family. And I am proud of it. I have no specific ambitions. The welfare of the country and its people is my aim and goal. The people’s leader used to say – ‘The people are God.’ He also said that there is no word for ‘tiredness’ in politics.”
She stated that she has remained dedicated, considering these words, tempered by practical experience, as her ideals. Former President Bhandari remarked, “Reaching this point in my political journey, political ups and downs have taught me much, made me understand things, and even made me more mature. I believe that the past has given others important lessons and experiences, just as it has given me.” She emphasized the need to understand the footsteps of time well, embrace them, and move forward cautiously.
She expressed confidence in continuing to receive love from leaders and cadres as always. “The responsibility of socio-economic transformation under the guidance of People’s Multi-Party Democracy, the original theory of the Nepali revolution propounded by people’s leader Madan Bhandari, still remains. The CPN (UML), which has developed as the mainstream of the Nepali communist movement, will be capable of fulfilling such an important responsibility,” Bhandari said, adding, “I also firmly believe that the UML will succeed in building a decisive national force, maintaining its integrity, and introducing Nepal to the world as a prosperous nation.”
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