Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari's renewal of UML membership is in controversy. At the Politburo meeting on Saturday, Party Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that no decision has been taken regarding the renewal of Bhandari's membership.

Bhandari renewed her membership in Baisakh 2081 with the intention of becoming active in politics. However, the Oli side says that due to a procedural error, Bhandari's membership renewal is pending. According to Article 8 (3) of the party constitution, the Oli side claims that since he is the president, he should give up party membership and take membership through a new process. "Renewal of membership of the former president is pending," said Rajendra Gautam, Head of Publicity Department, "It has been decided to discuss it further." 

Bhandari's side argued that according to Article 9 (3) of the Constitution, the membership will continue even if the party is not organized in any committee or body. According to the Bhandari side, the membership was automatically renewed. Bhandari informed that she joined UML because she renewed her party membership on the 74th birthday of Madan Bhandari on June 14. 

UML Deputy Secretary General Pradeep Gyawali said that more discussion is needed about Bhandari's decision to enter active politics and renewal of membership. He informed that no decision has been made about Bhandari's return to the party as there is no legal consensus. Gyawali said, "When I was president, I abandoned the membership, now I have to start from the beginning to get membership." If a committee had renewed it, it would not have been lawful.' 

He argued that since the membership is suspended in the case of the Speaker, it will be renewed, but in the case of the President and Vice President, the membership should be abandoned, so new membership should be taken. "It has been decided to discuss the constitutional question of the country," Gyawali said.

UML senior vice president Ishwar Pokharel argues that Bhandari is not required by law to be active in UML. "Neither does the constitution itself," he said. Karn Thapa, standing committee member of the Bhandari party, alleged that the dispute over renewal of membership was raised to prevent Bhandari from becoming active. It is wrong to say that his (Bhandari) membership is pending. You have received a subscription renewal receipt. According to the decision of the party, he is going to be the president," he said. 

Articles 8 and 9 of the UML Constitution provide for membership. Article 8 (3) mentions that "a person who has voluntarily abandoned membership can do so after completing the initial process if he wishes to re-subscribe." The Oli side has caught this stream. The Bhandari party has put forward the provision of maintaining membership in Article 8 (3) of the statute. A member assigned by the party for a special task is not a committee or  Even if he is not organized in the

organization, his membership will remain," said the article. Kashinath Adhikari, head of the organization department, said that Bhandari's membership has been renewed.

Similarly, when there is a central secretariat structure in UML, a proposal has been made to remove it from the constitution saying that there is a tendency to consider office bearers as the main leaders except the president. But this provision will centralize more power in the president  Leaders say that the

will pave the way. In the proposed legislative draft, it has been proposed to remove the current arrangement of having a central secretariat up to the post of official (secretary) and form a permanent committee. 

In the draft approved by the Politburo on Saturday, it is mentioned that 'the National Congress will elect a 251-member Central Committee, including President 1, Vice President 3, Secretary General 1, Deputy Secretary General 3 and Secretary 7'. Earlier, there was a 19-member Central Secretariat. Now there will be a 15-member standing committee. The post of senior vice-president, the second ranking in the party, has been removed. Although there is a provision in the statute, the age limit of 70 years, which is currently suspended, has been removed, and the provision of two terms for the same person in the same position has not been kept.

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Party constitution does not stop the renewal of Bhandari

 - Ishwar Pokharel, senior vice president

Why did the membership renewal of former president Bidyadevi Bhandari come under controversy?

The constitution did not stop him from joining politics. The chairman said that he will discuss with him after the meeting of the Central Committee. Even the draft of the party constitution did not stop him from being active.

70 years age limit and the same person in the same position for two terms is not guaranteed in the draft law, right?

Central officials and Politburo have not given the final form to the legislation. The Politburo is discussing  It will be forwarded to the Central Committee, Congress Delegates. This is a method of discussing the amendment of the statute. After the legislative convention passes, the national convention again gives the final form. Therefore, it cannot be said that the legislation has been finalized.

The senior vice president position you currently hold in the legislative draft  Why was removed?