On the afternoon of July 4, there was a lot of commotion at the UML headquarters Chasal. Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who was also the former vice-president of UML, was stepping into the party office after about nine years.

Bhandari has renewed his party membership, announced that he will be active in party politics again and announced his future plans, including that he is going to take the next leadership of the party. There were mixed reactions on whether the former president would enter active politics or not. In that context, the UML leaders were divided into two groups. At that time, the meetings of the UML Secretariat and Politburo were over and the Central Committee meeting was about to take place.

Bhandari's UML membership renewal and declaration of return to active politics are being discussed at a time when the agenda of the 'one to one' discussion with party president KP Sharma Oli, who is also the Prime Minister, which is to be held at the party headquarters, caught everyone's attention. At the

headquarters, there was a 'one-to-one' conversation between the two for about two hours. After the talk, both of them were smiling while coming out. Both sides were reacting enthusiastically, assuming that a 'positive' discussion had taken place, judging by their 'body language'.

The decision of the two-day central committee meeting, which started on the third day of the talks, which was said to be positive, became "unexpected" for former vice president Bhandari. The meeting decided that Bhandari, who has reached the post of 'Rashtrapramukh/Honorable', will not be allowed to return to the active politics of the party and her membership will not be renewed.

There was a lot of curiosity about how Bhandari will move forward after the decision. When Bhandari held a special press conference on July 9, it was expected by UML activists that he would aggressively present against the decision against him and move forward with a concrete plan. But she appeared in a 'soft' manner at the press conference without presenting any concrete plan. Leaders-activists who sympathized with Bhandari were also disappointed by that.

Bhandari insisted through the press conference that there was no reason to stop membership renewal and said, "I have no desire, ambition and desire for any post." My aim is to become a member of the party, to make the party strong, strong and united and to serve the country and the people through politics.'' But the leaders close to Bhandari say that the presentation was made after deliberation. "It was only to convey the message that injustice was done to them and not to remain silent," said one leader, "The strategy was not to speak loudly."

Meanwhile, the party headquarters instructed the subordinate committee not to discuss and debate more about Bhandari, and the situation became more tense. UML has issued an Inter-Party Directive (APANI) on 12th July to weaken the unity of the party in the name of the former President and resolved the debate and dispute in the ninth meeting of the Central Committee with appropriate decision. Now, by discussing and debating the matter further, he instructed that no one should do anything that would harm the honor, reputation and respect of the honorable former president.

What is Vidya Group doing?

The Bhandari group looks calm and quiet from the outside, but internally it is doing homework. A leader who is active in political affairs as an aide of Bhandari said that for now, the plan is to use the Madan Bhandari Foundation to increase political activity under Bhandari's leadership.

For that, under the leadership of Vidya Bhandari, the 'Janneta Madan Bhandari 75th Birth Anniversary Original Management Committee' has also been formed to celebrate the 'Diamond Festival' in memory of Madan Bhandari. Through that, they plan to carry out future political activities.

The Bhandari group has planned to intensify the activities of 'Madan Bhandari/Jabj' by taking the Madan Bhandari Foundation as the target of gaining party membership. For that, they are preparing to set up a liaison office by renting another building in the name of the foundation. Even while choosing the building of the Liaison Office, they have come up with an emotional connection with Madan Bhandari and Jabaj.

According to another leader active in Bhandari's political campaign, preparations are being made to set up a liaison office by renting a four-storey building in Thapa village in Baneshwar Heights to facilitate political activities.

'The house which Madan Bhandari used as a campaign liaison office in 2004 when he contested the elections in Kathmandu, is now being rented and preparations are being made for political activities,' said the leader, 'As soon as some management works are completed, Bhandari is planning to come to the office regularly in a few days to expand the contacts.' According to him, it is believed that it will help in conveying an emotional message by connecting it with workers. The Bhandari group is preparing to take membership agenda as a major issue under the activities of

foundation to the cadre level. Even now, Vidya is appealing to the leaders and activists for their support saying that no one can take away their membership. Now that order will be increased rapidly," said the leader, "discussions are being held with the members of the secretariat. It is estimated that probably the majority of members will support the side of not taking away the membership. Even now, contact persons of Bhandari group in every province are active informally.

Even though it is decided to separate from the membership, the leaders close to Bhandari believe that the decision can easily be reversed and another situation can be created when the number of supporters is increasing. A central leader close to Bhandari says that he is preparing to present a different document in the Legislative Assembly.