KATHMANDU, July 25: Following the decision of the party leadership not to renew the membership of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, political polarization within the ruling CPN-UML has deepened. The establishment faction has begun holding daily strategy meetings at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
Bhandari, who is reportedly preparing to engage with grassroots cadres, claiming she has been treated unfairly, now faces resistance from the party leadership. The establishment faction is planning to block her outreach — even physically — by discouraging party workers from attending her programs. “She should remain dignified as a former president, not mingle with party workers,” said a central leader close to the establishment faction on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, leaders aligned with former President Bhandari have been holding parallel discussions at her residence in Bhangal. Bhandari is set to hold a press conference today to formally announce her re-entry into active politics and her intention to engage with party members and the public.
The establishment faction led by General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has been conducting daily discussions at Baluwatar and issuing directives to provincial in-charges and chairpersons. On Wednesday night, a meeting was held with Pokharel, available office bearers in Kathmandu, provincial in-charges and provincial chairpersons. The meeting concluded only at 4 AM on Thursday.
Cadres were instructed not to attend any programs organized by Bhandari and to strongly oppose them. “It has reached a point where ideological resistance is necessary. Bhandari’s campaign is said to go against the spirit of the constitution,” said a leader who participated in the discussions.
The meeting also discussed possible legal challenges, including how to respond if Bhandari approaches the Election Commission or the courts regarding her membership status.
Bhandari is scheduled to hold her first press conference since the UML’s decision today at 3 PM at Karki Banquet in Babarmahal. She is expected to reaffirm her commitment to remain in the UML and uphold the party's ideology of people’s multiparty democracy. “She will take her stance, claiming she is still in the party.” a leader aligned with Bhandari said.
Despite being stripped of her party membership, Bhandari has not made any public comments but has been consulting with close allies. The UML central committee meeting on Tuesday night declared her membership invalid and barred her from returning to active party politics — a move that the leadership has portrayed as the final closure of her political journey within the party.
Senior Vice Chair Ishwar Pokharel later admitted that the decision was taken in haste and without allowing space for dissent. However, Vice Chairs Surendra Pandey and Yubaraj Gyawali, along with Standing Committee member Karna Thapa, reportedly opposed the move, creating internal friction during the meeting.