Nepal's first woman president Bidya Bhandari returns to UML as No. 2 behind Oli
Representative image: lang_u / Pixabay
Former Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari formally returned to active politics in the CPN-UML on October 8, 2026, taking oath as senior leader, second only to chair KP Sharma Oli.
What Happened
Bidya Devi Bhandari, who served as Nepal's first woman president, has formally returned to active party politics. On Thursday, October 8, 2026, she took the oath as a senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), or CPN-UML, at a meeting of the party's Standing Committee, where party chair and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli administered the oath. The party's central committee had nominated her last month to the new post, which places her second in the party hierarchy after Oli. Her return comes 11 years after she gave up party responsibilities to become head of state.
Key Facts
- Bhandari took the oath as CPN-UML senior leader on October 8, 2026.
- Party chair KP Sharma Oli administered the oath at a Standing Committee meeting.
- The senior leader post ranks second in the party, after the chair.
- The party's statute does not recognise a senior leader post, so the party created it by invoking a provision for removing obstacles.
- Bhandari left party roles in 2015 when she became Nepal's first woman president.
- She first announced plans to return to the party in June 2025, but the move was held up amid a power struggle with Oli, who was re-elected chair for a third consecutive term.
- Political analysts have warned that a former head of state returning to party politics could draw decisions from her presidency into partisan disputes.
Why It Matters
Few women have reached the top of South Asian politics, and fewer still have tried to return to front-line party work after holding the highest office. Bhandari's move is unusual on both counts. As Nepal's first woman president she was a symbol of women's political progress in Nepal. Her decision to step back into the rough and tumble of party politics, rather than retire to a ceremonial role, shows that she sees herself as a political leader with unfinished ambitions.
Inside the UML, her return changes the balance of power. Bhandari and Oli have been rivals, and her nomination as the party's second-ranking leader brings a figure with her own following into the leadership. Observers in Nepal have described her return as adding a new twist to the party's internal power struggle, and her role in the run-up to future elections will be closely watched.
The return also raises a question of norms. Presidents in parliamentary systems are expected to stand above party politics, and critics argue that a former president rejoining a party risks colouring how her decisions in office are seen. Supporters reply that she is entitled to take part in politics like any citizen once her term is over.
For India, Nepal's political stability matters, and changes in the leadership of one of its largest parties are followed closely in New Delhi.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Person | Bidya Devi Bhandari, former President of Nepal |
| Party | CPN-UML |
| New role | Senior leader, second after the chair |
| Oath | October 8, 2026, before party chair KP Sharma Oli |
Impact
Short-term: Bhandari's presence in the UML's top ranks is likely to shape debates over party strategy and leadership, and could rebalance factions within the party.
Long-term: If she takes a central role in coming elections, she could become one of the few women in South Asia to compete for executive power after serving as head of state.
Who is affected: CPN-UML members and leaders, Nepal's other political parties, women in Nepali politics, and neighbours such as India that watch Nepal's politics closely.
Key Takeaway
Bidya Devi Bhandari's return as the UML's second-ranking leader brings Nepal's first woman president back into front-line politics and into the heart of her party's power contest.
Questions and Answers
What new role has Bidya Devi Bhandari taken?
She took the oath as senior leader of the CPN-UML on October 8, 2026, a post that ranks second in the party after chair KP Sharma Oli.
Why is her return controversial?
Some analysts worry that a former head of state rejoining party politics could drag decisions she made as president into partisan disputes.
When did Bhandari leave party politics?
She gave up party responsibilities in 2015, when she became Nepal's first woman president, 11 years before her return.
Was the senior leader post already in the UML statute?
No. The party created the post by using a provision in its statute for removing obstacles.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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