Submit your Article

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the incumbent government has brought a wave of development in the country. 

Addressing a program organized at Matihani of Mahottari district today, PM Oli mentioned that the incumbent government formed from an alliance of the two largest parties--CPN-UML and Nepali Congress has been working round the clock for the development and good governance. 

He opined that remarkable achievements have been gained after development construction activities moved ahead in a speedy manner as the incumbent government put various issues directly concerned with the people--education, health and road on special priority. 

Also the Chairperson of the UML, Oli clarified that there was no alternative to incumbent government till next elections.  

He expressed the belief that with the inauguration of a bridge over Bighi river of Matihani would benefit all sectors including local trade, industry, factories, education and health. 

The bridge would connect the people of these areas with Janakpur, he added. 

Similarly, Chairperson of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Mahantha Thakur, senior leader and Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sharad Singh Bhandari, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, among others stressed the need of collective efforts to resolve the drinking water problems in a long-term manner in Madhes Province.  

They expressed commitment to provide possible support from their respective places to resolve overall problems of Madhes Province.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday inspected drought-hit areas in Tarai-Madhes.

A Cabinet meeting held on July 23 had decided to declare Madhes Province as disaster-hit areas for three months.

Earlier, Prime Minister Oli had held a discussion with concerned ministers, provincial government and other bodies concerned to resolve the problem.

The long-standing comradely relationship between KP Sharma Oli and Bidya Devi Bhandari has soured. Soon after Bhandari openly challenged her removal from the post of party chair, the Central Committee of CPN-UML officially decided to bar the former head of state from active party politics.

Although UML leaders have defended the midnight decision, claiming it was made to uphold the sanctity of the presidential office, many within the party and the general public remain unconvinced. While it’s still unclear how this episode will unfold, Bhandari has signaled her intent to stay active in party politics. However, by denying her even an ordinary party membership, the UML has created a barrier for her to engage directly with party leaders and cadres.

Previously, there were assumptions that a fair number of party leaders and cadres might support Bhandari, but the Central Committee meeting told a different story. Only a handful of leaders stood by her, while the overwhelming majority sided with Oli, which is likely due to his current status as Prime Minister. Just two leaders, Surendra Pandey and Yubaraj Gyawali, opposed the party’s decision to bar Bhandari from political involvement.

Bhandari’s limited support within the party’s Central Committee poses a serious challenge to her ability to become politically active or pose a meaningful challenge to Oli, who retains a firm grip on the party. Oli is poised to secure a third consecutive term as party leader, barring any dramatic developments. In Bhandari’s absence, no leader appears willing to contest the party leadership at the upcoming general convention.

Meanwhile, within the Nepali Congress (NC), senior leader Shekhar Koirala has been meeting with both ruling and opposition party leaders, though the reasons remain unclear. Prime Minister Oli, however, reportedly views these meetings as attempts to unseat his government. Seven NC second-rung leaders also held a luncheon at Prakash Man Singh’s residence, but the meeting failed to generate any notable impact within the party.

Koirala has separately met opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former President Bhandari. He has grown increasingly vocal in criticizing the government, arguing that UML is attacking the core values of the NC and that the party should withdraw from the coalition. Some speculate that Koirala is positioning himself to become prime minister by dismantling the current coalition. However, he lacks the numbers needed to become the parliamentary party leader. Koirala believes that if he can ascend to the premiership before the party’s general convention, he could influence the party’s internal elections.

Several key bills related to land, education, and the Constitutional Council have become contentious issues among coalition partners. Serious differences persist between NC and UML on these matters, and while they may not immediately threaten the coalition, they are a source of growing friction. Senior leaders from both parties are engaged in ongoing discussions, but efforts to bridge the divide have thus far failed. NC leaders are also pressuring President Ram Chandra Poudel to reject the bill concerning the Constitutional Council.

UML is under public scrutiny for its apparent double standards on the “cooling-off” period in the Civil Service Bill. While some of its National Assembly members support removing this provision, both the NC and the CPN (Maoist Center) are firmly opposed to any compromise. In a previous incident, the bureaucracy altered a draft bill passed by the House of Representatives, prompting the formation of a probe panel to investigate.

Within the Maoist Center, the rift between party chair Dahal and Janardhan Sharma is deepening. Sharma is reportedly trying to form a rival faction within the party. Recently, he publicly remarked that apart from Manmohan Adhikari, all communist leaders have engaged in the accumulation of vast wealth, a comment that has irritated Dahal. While several second-tier leaders are seeking a change in leadership, Dahal remains unwilling to step down.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party, once in the national spotlight, is now mired in internal disunity. Senior leaders like Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani have criticized party chair Rajendra Lingden for alleged bias against party members and cadres. Senior leader Rabindra Mishra, however, remains silent amid the growing intra-party conflict.

This week, media reports suggested that Prime Minister Oli is planning an official visit to New Delhi. Some outlets have speculated on possible dates, but officials have yet to confirm details. Nonetheless, both countries have recently discussed important matters such as mutual legal assistance and an extradition treaty.

The government has declared Madhesh Province a disaster-affected zone due to a prolonged drought that has severely impacted drinking water supplies, irrigation, and agriculture. Climate change is dramatically reshaping life in the region, from drying springs to plummeting rice yields. Locals say they feel increasingly estranged from the very elements that once sustained them. “Neither the rice feels like ours anymore, nor the water,” many say, as parched fields and vanishing water sources force families to walk miles just to collect a single bucket.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed his commitment to speed up work to prevent the crisis of drinking water and manage irrigation facilities in the Tarai-Madhes region. 

Responding to the queries raised by lawmakers in a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Wednesday, Prime Minister Oli shared today's Cabinet meeting's decision to declare Madhes Province a natural disaster-hit area and pledged to arrange drinking water and irrigation facilities by utilizing all resources. 

"Currently, the hills are being adversely affected by rainfall and floods, while the Tarai-Madhes is marred by a long spell of drought. The government has taken necessary steps to address these problems,” Prime Minister Oli noted. 

"The government is serious about the issue. Now we have to lay focus on finding both short-term and long-term solutions to address the issues. The government will leave no stone unturned to avert the crisis, he added.

The CPN-UML has stated that the issue of former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership renewal has become ‘automatically inactive’. Speaking at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Chyasal on Wednesday, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel clarified that as per the party statute, only the Central Committee can decide on membership renewal. Since the committee has established that there is no requirement for Bhandari to return to active politics, the question of membership does not arise.

“We decided that the ex-president should not return to politics. So, the issue of renewing her membership in her party is no longer relevant. We have shelved it,” Pokharel said. He said that Bhandari had submitted her membership renewal application and fee a year ago, but the matter was not disclosed but was kept secret until the internal debate took place. It became known only after Bhandari herself disclosed it.

“Since her honored previous position, it was viewed as a delicate issue. We did not wish to expose it without due deliberation. But as she publicly disclosed it, the party was forced to react,” Pokharel explained.

The UML has also contended that it is against the constitution for an ex-head of state to resume partisan politics. The party contends that Constitution of Nepal 2015 does not envision the active political stances taken by a ceremonial head of state, a symbol of national unity and neutrality, after retirement. “The Nepali democratic system envisions the President as a constitutional, not an executive head. So, returning to party politics after serving as President cheapens the office,” wrote a UML release.

The statement pointed out that Bhandari is a highly respected figure in Nepali politics and had behaved with dignity—both as a party member and as the President. She was even honored during UML’s Diamond Jubilee as a ‘Pride of the Republic’. But, citing constitutional values and precedence, the party concluded that allowing an ex-president to engage in partisan politics would cast doubt on their previous decisions and impartiality.

At the same time, General Secretary Pokharel claimed that the UML has not excluded anyone from running for leadership in the coming party convention. In reply to the rumors that recent amendments of the statutes—removing two-term and age-70 limitations—were made so as to provide KP Sharma Oli with uncontested leadership, Pokharel claimed the amendments were debated from an institutional point of view. “Anyone who fulfills the party’s requirements can run.” “The offer is open and democratic,” he said, adding that most members of the Central Committee consider Oli to be the most suitable to take the party through the next general elections.

The party’s ninth Central Committee meeting had concluded late Tuesday night after passing eight resolutions. The debate over Bhandari’s political role took up much of the meeting, and a minimal dissent was voiced. However, Oli concluded the meeting by announcing that Bhandari’s party membership issue had not been endorsed. The UML leaders warned that allowing a former president to return to party politics could set a negative precedent, potentially politicizing the constitutional office of the President.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has reminded the government's priority to discourage youths from travelling abroad with creation of sufficient jobs at home and engage the migrant returnees in the productive sector.

In his response to the concerns shown by lawmakers during a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, the Prime Minister said the government had announced a period from 2082 to 2092 BS as the Internal Employment Promotion Decade. 

Agriculture, industry, tourism, energy and infrastructure development, the major areas for Nepal's development, are attracting significant investment from both the government and private sectors and they are highly capable of providing job opportunities, according to the Prime Minister. 

The Prime Minister further added that the government had pursued a policy of restructuring the Prime Minister Employment Programme as the National Employment Programme, making it more skill and employment-oriented. 

Entrepreneurship development programs through startup and innovations are in operation, targeting the 'Gen Z' population, he added. 

Likewise, PM  Oli said that under the ReMi Project, reintegration and entrepreneurship promotion programs have been implemented in 20 local levels of Koshi and Madhesh Provinces targeting youths returned from foreign migration.  

Reiterating his commitments against corruption, he said corruption is intolerable.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government is responsible and sensitive towards concluding the transitional justice process with a guarantee of justice to the survivors.

Responding to concerns raised by lawmakers in a meeting of the House of Representatives today, Prime Minister Oli said that concluding the remaining tasks related to transitional justice and bringing the peace process to a conclusion is a high priority of the government.

Expressing the government's commitment to well recognize the contributions and sacrifices of martyrs, those forcibly disappeared, and conflict survivors, he said that work is in progress to conclude the peace process as soon as possible.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that unity and collaboration between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, despite their distinct political ideologies, have enabled the nation to successfully face each critical juncture.

Responding to concerns raised by lawmakers during a session of the House of Representatives today, Prime Minister Oli was of the view that such collaboration has led to political stability and transformative achievements, institutionalizing these accomplishments.

He said that both political parties were able to steer adverse political developments in the right direction by following the paths laid out by BP Koirala and Pushpa L Lal Shrestha. 

He claimed that the NC-UML coalition government has been successful in terms of achieving political stability and promoting prosperity in the country.

Oli also took the opportunity to pay tribute to veteran communist leader Pushpa Lal and Nepal's first elected Prime Minister BP Koirala, whose memorial days were observed yesterday and today, respectively.

He called on political leaders to focus on unity and reconciliation, rather than on 'difference' and 'division,' emphasizing the message of harmony conveyed by the two leaders.

The Prime Minister, who is also the Chair of UML, said that Pushpa Lal, a relentless fighter for the cause of the nation and its citizens, was even denied the right to spend his final days in his homeland by the then autocratic regime.

He added that Pushpa Lal’s vision for a joint people’s movement was realized through the collaboration between the Nepali Congress and the then United Left Front Nepal in 1990, which led to the establishment of a multiparty democratic system.

A similar form of collaboration in 2063 BS reinstated the dissolved Parliament, bringing about a qualitative transformation in the political system. Such unity and transformation paved the way for suspending the centuries-old monarchy and enabled the situation wherein a people-elected Prime Minister could exercise the rights of the head of government, according to the Prime Minister. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's special address at the House of Representatives (HoR) scheduled for today has been postponed. 

Chief Whip of UML Parliamentary Party, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, informed that the scheduled address of the PM was removed from Parliament business today. 

However, the session of lawmakers' questions and answers with the PM will run as it is, he added.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is making a special address in the meeting of the House of Representatives today.

Prime Minister Oli will make the special address at 1 pm today, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula said. 

He will address the Parliament, focusing on the government's major achievements in the past year, upcoming priorities, and contemporary issues raised by opposition parties including the main opposition party in the federal Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Parliament Secretariat has stated that the Prime Minister will also respond to questions asked by lawmakers today under the regular agenda of the p

Parliament.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be responding to questions raised by lawmakers in the meeting of the House of Representatives today.

Similarly, Speaker Devraj Ghimire is scheduled to present a proposal seeking consideration on the 'Ship (Operation and Management) Bill, 2081, which originated in the National Assembly.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari will table a proposal seeking general discussion on the WTO Agreement on Concessions in the Fisheries Industry.

Furthermore, three parliamentary committees—the Public Accounts Committee, the Legislative Management Committee, and the Federalism Strengthening and National Concerns Committee are holding meetings today.

The PAC will discuss 'complaints related to the construction of the Jagadulla Hydropower Project' while the Legislative Management Committee will hold clause-wise discussion on the ‘Water Resources Bill, 2081’.

The Federalism Strengthening Committee will discuss the progress status of projects of national pride under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The discord between CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has further escalated, with both remaining adamant in their respective positions.

Prime Minister Oli and a majority of leaders in the party’s Central Committee (CC) believe that a former head of state should not return to active party politics. However, Bhandari has shown no signs of heeding the suggestions from Oli, UML leaders, or even opposition parties. A day after Oli instructed the CC members not to act as a ‘spokesperson’ for the former president, Bhandari warned against attempts to ‘terrorize’ her supporters. Speaking to a group of journalists, she reiterated her return to UML politics and firmly stated that she would not back down.

Whether out of deference to Oli or genuine concern, most CC members have echoed the view that a former president re-entering active politics would have negative implications for the nascent republic. Only a few leaders spoke in her favor during the CC meeting, and even they refrained from explicitly endorsing her political comeback. Meanwhile, most CC leaders have rallied behind Oli’s bid to lead the party for a third consecutive term at the upcoming general convention. To facilitate this, the UML is preparing to amend its statute at the upcoming statute convention. Some party leaders have even suggested that the ongoing CC meeting should unanimously propose Oli as party chair for the next five years.

A one-on-one meeting between Oli and Bhandari on Sunday failed to narrow the rift; instead, it appears to have widened it further. Outside the UML as well, the political environment remains largely unfavorable for Bhandari’s return. The largest party, Nepali Congress, has reiterated its stance that former presidents should refrain from active politics. “We have a clear position that the former president should not engage in active politics,” said NC leader Gopal Man Shrestha.

The main opposition, CPN (Maoist Center), has not taken a clear position, partly due to its own moral quandary, as former Vice President Nanda Kishwor Pun has already joined the party, ignoring similar objections about returning to active politics. Speaking from her private residence, Bhandari made it clear that there is no turning back. Oli and Bhandari have long shared a cordial relationship. Oli played a key role in securing her presidency in 2015.

At that time, there had been intense debate within the UML over the party's presidential nominee. Senior leaders like Madhav Kumar Nepal supported Jhala Nath Khanal or Astha Laxmi Shakya, but Oli stood firmly behind Bhandari. During her tenure, Bhandari and Oli maintained a close working relationship, with Bhandari often criticized for approving Oli’s decisions, including the controversial dissolution of Parliament, without any scrutiny. 

Tensions began to surface when Bhandari publicly expressed her intent to return to active politics. Initially, Oli did not oppose her. However, in her Nepali New Year message, Bhandari hinted at the need to review the party's current leadership, an indirect challenge to Oli’s position. This statement was widely interpreted as a signal that she aimed to displace Oli.

Despite the tension, the two leaders continued to meet regularly, either at Baluwatar or at Bhandari’s residence. In June, Bhandari visited China for a week, and the two met both before and after the trip. Her supporters claimed that China sees Bhandari as a future leader of the UML, potentially uniting the broader left. According to Bhandari, she had informed Oli of her intention to return to politics even while serving as president.

Relations soured further after Bhandari declared in an interview last week that she wishes to lead the party. In response, Oli reminded her that her party membership renewal is still pending. Bhandari had relinquished her UML membership after becoming president in 2015, upholding the principle that the head of state should remain impartial.

After her term ended in 2022, Bhandari submitted an application to renew her party membership. She claims to have done so six months after leaving office, and at the time, no UML leaders raised objections. However, party leaders now argue that the issue is political rather than technical. It remains unclear how the UML will resolve the matter of Bhandari’s return to active politics.

A delegation led by chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), Chen Xiaodong, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today.

During the meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar, discussions were held regarding the mutual relations between the two countries, bilateral agreement reached at the Ministry of Finance on Monday, and implementation of previously signed agreements on development cooperation during the high-level visits between the two countries, stated the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

On the occasion, PM Oli stated that there is a long and friendly relationship between Nepal and China, reiterating Nepal's commitment to the One China policy.

He expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for prioritizing the construction of physical structures damaged at the border between the two countries in Rasuwagadhi due to the recent flash floods, and mentioned that the Nepali side has also expedited the necessary efforts to that end.

He emphasized the need to move forward without interruption in the operation of the Kimathangka and other border transit points with China, as well as in the projects under the 'Belt and Road Initiative Framework' to make Nepal land-linked from being land-locked.

Prime Minister's chief advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, economic development advisor Yuba Raj Khatiwada and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song were present in the meeting.

The delegation on Monday called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and discussed the projects operated with the support of the Chinese government and those that will be implemented in the coming days.

On that occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed regarding the project related to 'bone marrow transplantation' at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan, and to conduct a feasibility study for the expansion of the Civil Service Hospital.

Similarly, a memorandum of understanding on human resource development between the two countries and a 'minute' regarding the feasibility study for the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung cross-border electricity transmission line was also signed during the meeting with the DPM and Finance Minister Paudel on Tuesday.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is preparing to lead the CPN-UML for a third consecutive term, a move not uncommon in communist parties. To facilitate this, the party is set to amend its statute at the upcoming statute convention next month. The proposed amendment would remove the two-term limit and the 70-year age cap for the party leadership. The rationale is straightforward: Oli is already 74, and party insiders argue there is no other leader capable of steering the party through the current challenging situation.

“In the seventh general convention, I myself had proposed the 70-year age limit, but the context of the party and the country has changed entirely,” Oli told the UML Central Committee on Monday. His push for a third term is not without precedent. Madhav Kumar Nepal, now leading a separate party, served as the UML's executive general secretary for 15 years, from 1993 to 2008. Still, within UML, there is no clear or consistent policy regarding age or term limits for top leadership roles.

Oli’s supporters insist he must remain at the helm for at least five more years, arguing that the party faces a monumental challenge in becoming the largest political force in the 2027 elections. Within the UML, Oli continues to project himself as the undisputed leader, and is determined not to allow the rise of any rival faction. According to leaders close to him, Oli has repeatedly made it clear that he will not settle for being the party's second-in-command.

Oli has also consistently warned against the formation of factions. In the ongoing Central Committee meeting, Oli cautioned leaders against acting as “spokesperson” for former president Bidya Devi Bhandari, as speculation grows about her potential entry into party politics. Among UML’s senior leadership, figures such as Ishwar Pokhrel, Yubaraj Gyawali, Astha Laxmi Shakya, Ram Bahadur Thapa, Surendra Pandey, Shankar Pokhrel, and Pradeep Gyawali remain influential. Of these, only Pokhrel and Pandey are seen as sympathetic to Bhandari.

Oli first became UML chairperson in 2015 after defeating Madhav Kumar Nepal, and won again in 2021, decisively beating Bhim Rawal, despite his aim for a unanimous endorsement. Following disagreements with Oli, Nepal left UML to form the CPN (Unified Socialist), while Rawal also exited the party. Within Nepal’s communist parties, long-term leadership is not uncommon. CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has led his party since the 1980s without holding intra-party elections and has indicated that he intends to remain in power indefinitely.

Dahal’s key rivals, Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya, have already departed from the Maoist party. Although Janardhan Sharma has emerged as a potential challenger, he has yet to pose a serious threat to Dahal’s leadership. Meanwhile, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Nepal has refused to step down, despite ongoing corruption cases filed against him by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

UML, however, has traditionally operated differently from the Maoists and other fringe parties. Since 1990, it has held regular intra-party elections to choose its leadership, the last of which was in 2021 that re-elected Oli. To win a third term, Oli will once again need to secure internal support.

The recent public statement by former President Bhandari announcing her return to active politics has sparked criticism of Oli’s third-term ambition. Oli maintains that he deserves another term, citing significant progress in party organization. He told the Central Committee that ordinary party membership had increased by 28 percent under his leadership. Moreover, he emphasized the absence of ideological or policy disputes within the party and called on all members to work collectively to position UML as the decisive political force in 2027.

Bhandari’s re-entry into party politics could pose a serious challenge to Oli’s dominance. However, Oli has publicly stated that a former head of state should not return to active politics, arguing that doing so would undermine the dignity of the presidential office. Referring to leaders close to Bhandari, he accused them of deliberately trying to create discord within the party. Oli is aware that Bhandari’s political engagement could lead to the emergence of a strong rival faction, potentially challenging his leadership at the upcoming general convention. In recent months, Bhandari has been quietly working to consolidate her influence within the party. Nevertheless, Oli continues to enjoy a firm grip over the party, with dissenting voices largely subdued.

CPN-UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged Central Committee members to strengthen the party's internal unity.

Speaking at the ninth Central Committee meeting of the party that began today, Chair Oli stressed that the entire party line should be united as there was no ideological and policy-level dispute in the party.  

The party membership has increased by 139,000 (28 percent) in the recent period, thereby making the party organization stronger, he informed. 

Chair Oli called on party's central members to transform the party as a decisive force of the country, shared UML Central Publicity Department Chief, Rajendra Gautam. 

"There is no confrontation among us but we should be aware of possible efforts of some elements intending to create dispute and division," Chair Oli reminded. The Central Committee members were asked to put forth their views in the meeting. 

According to him, the opponents could not compete with UML ideology and performance.  

Leader Gautam shared that the discussion would also be held about the meeting between Chair Oli and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday.

Vice-Chairperson Bishnu Prasad Paudel would present a statute amendment proposal while General Secretary an organizational report in the two-day meeting. 

Similarly, the meeting would discuss the managerial preparation of the upcoming Statute Convention.

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s announcement to rejoin active politics has raised widespread concerns about the impartiality and integrity of the presidency. Political leaders and experts argue that her decision undermines Nepal’s nascent republic, which is already facing challenges from royalist forces.

Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai criticized the move, stating that it contradicts the CPN-UML’s professed ideology of multiparty democracy, as championed by Madan Bhandari. “Bhandari’s return to active politics is not just an internal party matter. It has serious implications for national interests, the spirit of the federal republic, and governance,” he said.

Nepali Congress (NC) leaders warned that Bhandari’s political reentry could intensify attacks on the republic and erode public trust in the presidency. Over the past year, Bhandari has been conducting parallel party activities and has openly declared her ambition to lead the UML and eventually become prime minister.

In contrast, former President Ram Baran Yadav (2008–2015) has refrained from active politics, focusing instead on social work. While former Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun joined Maoist politics, observers note that the roles of president and vice president carry vastly different symbolic weights, making Bhandari’s case more contentious.

Political analysts warn that if Bhandari resumes active politics, the presidency may no longer be seen as an impartial institution, weakening the republican system. Past decisions by both Yadav and Bhandari have already faced public scrutiny. Yadav clashed with non-NC prime ministers, while Bhandari was accused of favoring the UML during her tenure. Her latest move reinforces the perception that presidents prioritize party interests over national ones. Unlike in democracies where former heads of state typically engage in philanthropy, Bhandari’s decision sets a concerning precedent.

Prime Minister and UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has opposed Bhandari’s return, calling it detrimental to both the country and party unity. He noted that the UML supported her presidency assuming she would adhere to constitutional norms barring former presidents from active politics. “Her plan to rejoin politics is alarming, given her former role as head of state, supreme commander of the Nepali Army, and a symbol of the republic,” Oli said.

Bhandari is pressuring the party to clarify her position, reportedly seeking senior leadership status before next month’s statute convention. However, the UML has delayed renewing her ordinary membership, citing ongoing review. Senior leader Surendra Pandey claims her membership was renewed two years ago, but the party has not officially confirmed this.

Meanwhile, Bhandari has been expanding her influence through the Madan Bhandari Foundation, a think tank named after her late husband, and touring provinces to bolster her support base.

As Bhandari maneuvers for a comeback, the UML is preparing amendments to allow Oli a third consecutive term as chairman and abolish the 70-year age limit, a move opposed by Vice-chairperson Ishwar Pokhrel but met with silence from other senior leaders. Leaders like Pokhrel, Ananda Pokhrel, Karna Bahadur Thapa and Gokul Banskota have openly backed Bhandari, while top figures remain noncommittal.

Amid rising tensions, Oli and Bhandari held a one-on-one meeting at the UML headquarters on Sunday, signaling unresolved negotiations over her political future.