Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari formally returned to active politics Thursday, taking an oath as a senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal ( Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML, on October 8, 2026.
UML chair and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli administered the oath at the party headquarters in Chyasal, Lalitpur. Bhandari then attended a Standing Committee meeting, her first party meeting in this capacity in nearly 11 years.
The UML Central Committee had nominated her to a senior leadership position in September.
Bhandari served two consecutive terms as president, from October 2015 until March 2023. Before that, she was a UML vice chairperson and held ministerial posts, including defense minister.
Her return was initially contested within the party, which opposed restoring her membership on the grounds that a former president should stay out of active party politics. The UML later restored her membership in May 2026, and its decision to elevate her formalized her place in the leadership.
The appointment comes as the UML debates its leadership and organizational direction after the March 5, 2026, parliamentary election. The party won 25 seats in the House of Representatives, seven through first past-the-post constituencies and 18 through proportional representation. Several UML leaders have called for restructuring and a review of the party's leadership. Bhandari had also called for a candid review of the party's leadership and working methods.
The appointment has prompted speculation about her future influence. Her formal role does not, however, indicate that she will challenge Oli for the chairmanship or replace him. Future leadership arrangements remain a separate question.
Her return has also revived debate over whether former presidents should resume partisan roles. Political scientist Hari Sharma, a former adviser to President Ram Baran Yadav, said the constitution does not expressly prohibit a former president from returning to party politics. He argues, however, that the matter also involves the impartiality and public standing associated with the presidency.
Constitutional expert Bipin Adhikari questioned whether returning to party politics is compatible with the dignity traditionally associated with the office. UML leader Binda Pandey said political parties should focus on issues affecting the public rather than on positions and appointments.
Bhandari has said she returned to help built the party and the country and has no personal ambition for another position.
Her formal return places her in the UML's senior leadership at a time of internal debate. Whether it leads to a larger role in shaping the party's direction will depend on later decisions within the organization.
