Former VP Pun returns to active politics as ex-Prez Bhandari eyes UML leadership

KATHMANDU, Feb 4: Former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has officially re-entered active party politics, with the CPN (Maoist Center) assigning him a defined role within the party.

A meeting of the office bearers of the party on Monday decided to appoint Pun as the head of the party’s body overseeing the production sector. However, there are speculations that Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal intends to elevate him to Vice Chairman to strengthen his position within the party.

A party office bearer stated that Pun has been given the responsibility of forming and leading the mechanism overseeing the production sector as per his own preference. Although the former Vice President had already started attending Maoist Center meetings, he had not been assigned a formal role within the party until now.

Pun, who led the Maoists’ People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the early phase of the peace process, was elected as Nepal’s second Vice President on October 31, 2015. He served two consecutive terms in this position until March 20, 2023.

Since last month, Pun has been actively participating in Maoist Center’s meetings. Although he has not been officially designated as an office bearer yet, he has been seen sitting alongside senior leaders during the Central Committee meetings. “Given his contributions to the party and his stature as the former Vice President, it is only a matter of time before he is given a key office bearer position,” said a party official, requesting anonymity.

A section of Maoist Center leaders believes Chairman Dahal played a key role in bringing Pun back into active politics. They argue that Dahal aims to consolidate his weakening grip on the party, particularly in response to emerging factions challenging his leadership.

One faction, led by Janardan Sharma, has openly questioned Dahal’s leadership, while other factions led by Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Barsha Man Pun already exist within the party. More recently, a faction led by Shakti Basnet has also surfaced. “Chairman Dahal likely sees Pun’s appointment to a key position as a way to secure his leadership within the party,” claimed a senior Maoist Center leader.

Political analysts suggest that Pun’s return to active politics could set the stage for former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s own political comeback. Both Bhandari and Pun served as President and Vice President, respectively, for two consecutive terms from 2015 to 2023.

Bhandari has publicly expressed her intention to return to active party politics and assume a leadership role. Insiders within the CPN-UML—her parent party—indicate that she is preparing to contest for the party chairmanship in the upcoming UML general convention.