Kathmandu, July 20: CPN UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari held a meeting.
The two held one-to-one meeting at the UML’s central office, Lalitpur today. The meeting is held on the eve of the party’s central committee meeting.
Emerging from the meeting, former President Bhandari briefly interacted with the journalists during which she informed that they discussed contemporary issues of national politics. “I only held talks regarding national politics with him,” mentioned Bhandari. “You will learn about other issues through party’s official channel,” she added.
The Former President also divulged in the gathering of journalists that she already had her party’s membership renewed.
The meeting between the Chairman of the ruling party and former President lasted for nearly an hour and half. Bhandari, in her first visit to the UML’s central office since she stepped down from the role after serving as the country’s Head of the State, was welcomed by UML’s Vice-President Surendra Pandey and Secretary of the party’s central office, Dr Bhisma Adhikari.
It may be noted that Bhandari, the former Vice-Chairperson of UML, has already announced her return to politics. This issue figured significantly in the previously held UML’s secretariat and politburo meetings and subsequently made its way into the meeting with the party leadership today.
Bhandari’s return to active politics through her party has drawn a mixed reaction within the party as a section of the party is in favour of her return while a majority of the politburo members in the politburo meeting yesterday were against it, arguing that a person already holding a prestigious position such as the President should not consider returning to politics.
‘Meeting between Chair Oli and former President Bhandari positive’
The CPN UML leaders have said the meeting held between UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari was positive.
The two leaders held the meeting at UML headquarters, Lalitpur for one and half hour on Sunday.
At a time when the debate surfaced in the party and political milieu whether it was right for the former President Bhandari to return to party politics, the meeting between the top figures is expected to help fizzle out the debate.
Senior Vice Chairman Ishwor Pokhrel said Chairman Oli had informed the Saturday’s politburo meeting of the party about his meeting with former President. The meeting held on Sunday was positive, he said, adding that General Secretary of the party had already informed about renewal of Bhandari’s membership to the party.
At a time when the UML central committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, the meeting held between Oli and Bhandari is being observed keenly.
“It is not good to advocate for or against any leader or faction in the party. So, rather than outside debates, the harmonious discussion held between party Chairman and former President will help settle the issue,” said Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai.
It is said the central committee meeting is dwelling on the key agenda of amendment to party statute. #nepal #politics #cpnuml
