KATHMANDU, Nepal — Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari will not be allowed to participate as a representative in the upcoming CPN-UML Statute Convention. This decision, made during a CPN-UML Secretariat meeting on Thursday, has stirred discussions within Nepal’s largest communist party. The party passed a rule stating that only those who were delegates at the 10th National Convention can attend the Statute Convention as representatives. Since Bidya Devi Bhandari was not a delegate then, she is now excluded from this key event.
The Statute Convention, set for August 5–7 in Godavari, Lalitpur, is an important meeting where the CPN-UML will discuss changes to its rules and leadership structure. Bidya Devi Bhandari, who recently rejoined the party after serving as Nepal’s President from 2015 to 2023, had hoped to play a big role. Her return to active politics last month sparked excitement among some party members but also tension with current party chair, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Oli and his supporters pushed for the new rule, which many see as a move to limit Bidya Devi Bhandari’s influence. The 64-year-old former President has been meeting party members across Nepal and even visited China recently, raising speculation that she aims to challenge Oli for the party’s top leadership post. However, Oli, aged 74, wants to continue leading the CPN-UML, and the party’s decision to scrap age and term limits could help him stay in power.
Some CPN-UML leaders, like Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali, explained that the rule aligns with the party’s existing guidelines. “Only those who were part of the 10th National Convention can be representatives,” Gyawali said. Others in the party, however, support Bidya Devi Bhandari, believing she could bring new energy to the CPN-UML.
This decision has caused a divide in the party, with some calling it unfair. Bidya Devi Bhandari has said she will accept any role the party’s central committee gives her. As the Statute Convention nears, Nepal’s political scene is buzzing with debates about her future and the CPN-UML’s leadership.
