Parliament has elected women leaders for the country's two top posts within two weeks and just 40 days since the promulgation of the new constitution. Parliament elected UCPN (Maoist) leader Onsari Gharti Magar as its speaker on October 16.
Bhandari's rise to the country's highest position has sparked debate as to whether that will make any real difference to empowering women and the marginalized communities of the country as per the principle of proportional representation under the new constitution.
While many depict her rise as historic for women's empowerment and the overall transformation of the country, some rights activists beg to differ. They claim that she hasn't been a fighter for women's empowerment in the real sense.
Bhandari was the lawmaker who tabled a motion in parliament immediately after the people's movement in 2006, demanding 33 percent women's representation in all state organs. This was unanimously endorsed by the House.
Parliament subsequently enacted various constitutional and legal amendments to lay the ground for ensuring women's participation at policy-making levels.
However, rights activists take Bhandari to task for not supporting their campaign to ensure women's rights in the new constitution, including for instance a provision on citizenship by descent for children through their mothers.
Former CA member Pushpa Bhusal, who has worked closely with Bhandari, found in her a leader with a very clear perspective on Nepali politics and an ability to stand firm over certain issues.
"She never hesitated to speak out on anything that she believed was right even if that made her unpopular," said Bhusal.
Bhandari was for protecting the things that can be achieved immediately and not for losing these in the name of sweeping changes.
Does Bhandari's
election really matter for women?
Lawyer-turned-politician Bhusal believes that Bhandari rose by overcoming several challenges during her long political journey and her story can inspire women leaders and youths who have been struggling for years.
In Nepal, many women politicians quit in mid-career because of the contrary pulls of family, society and political party, she said.
1993 incident as turning point
Bidya Bhandari did not rise overnight. But it is also true that after giving up student politics she limited herself to being a housewife at a time when her husband, the late Madan Bhandari -- general secretary of the CPN-UML -- was a most popular leader in the country.
In 1993, the charismatic Madan Bhandari was killed in a mysterious road accident.
The party then fielded his widow in parliamentary elections from the same Kathmandu constitutency that had elected him.
She defeated former prime minister and top NC leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. Though her victory was attributed to public sympathy for the death of her husband, her subsequent victory helped her prove herself.
It was in 2010 that as defense minister she showed her mettle.
She was defense minister when the UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML were at odds over integrating the Maoist combatants into the national army. She maintained a firm stance over crucial issues. At times she was accused of rigidity and of foiling initiatives by moderate leaders for integrating the Maoists.
"But over time, top leaders from various political parties became impressed by her political maturity," said UML Secretaray Pradeep Gyawali.
Bhandari's trajectory in public life shows that she might grow into her new role as a bold incumbent once she has spent some time at Sheetal Niwas. She may not hesitate to take some unpopular decisions if her position so requires.
Related story
Desperate search for missing girls as nearly 80 dead in Texas f...
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
