Despite UML's ban, Bhandari has continued to hold political meetings showing her activism in Biratnagar.
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Koshi Chief Minister Hikmat Karki held a secret meeting with former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who came down to Biratnagar for the third time in 7 months, on Monday at around 8 pm.
Chief Minister's Press Adviser Vikram Luintel said that Karki had a 'one to one' meeting with Bhandari for about 1 hour. Luintel said, "The Chief Minister did not meet him directly, he went and met with a team of government ministers." Amidst this political sensitivity, Chief Minister Karki's meeting with Bhandari is seen as politically important. According to press adviser Luintel, during the meeting which lasted for about an hour, the former president and the chief minister had a general discussion on current political issues. Luintel said, 'The UML has a policy of respecting Bhandari as a former president, so the meeting took place accordingly.'
The chief minister's office has not given any information about what happened in the meeting. However, according to the source, Bhandari has been complaining to the group that President KP Oli has insulted her. Analysts speculate that after the meeting with the Chief Minister, Bhandari may have indicated that he will move forward in a more political strategy.
Bhandari was welcomed at the Biratnagar airport by UML leaders-activists including State Minister of the state Srijan Rai. Bhandari was planning to meet UML workers at the UML district party office on Tuesday. However, UML had ordered the workers not to meet Bhandari. Party in-charge Parshuram Basnet has given public instructions through social media and said, "There is no formal program in Viratnagar, don't get confused." The dialogue between Bhandari and Karki has given birth to a new discussion about provincial politics and the partisanship, pressure and future balance of power within the UML.
active despite prohibition
Even though the UML Central Committee decided to stop former President Bidya Devi Bhandari from being active in politics, that decision did not stop her. Despite UML's prohibition, Bhandari has become active again. Bhandari, who is also the former vice president of UML, issued a statement opposing the decision at the initial stage. Since then she seemed to be silent for a long time. She came down to Biratnagar again on Monday to convey the message that she has entered politics again.
Biratnagar is also his political base area. That is why she has come down to Biratnagar for the third time in seven months. On Monday, she participated in the 21st anniversary of Udghosh Dainik held in Biratnagar. Even outside the formal program, she continued political meetings and dialogues. The management of Bhandari's meeting has been arranged by Vinod Dhakal, a leader of other factions within the UML.
UML central advisory council member Dhakal himself was defeated in the Koshi state chairmanship, although he is not in a leading role, under his leadership in Morang, Biratnagar and other areas, the other side of the establishment has become strong.
Bhandari has prepared to meet the central leaders of UML, officials and members of All Nepal Mahila Sangh on the occasion of Teej, according to her close leaders. On August 6-7, he has scheduled a meeting and political dialogue on the pretext of rates. After that, it is planned to participate in a meeting with women entrepreneurs in Birganj in the second week of August. He is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.
Growing dissatisfaction within the UML
The decision to make Bhandari inactive has been questioned within the UML. While the provincial committee meetings are being held with the aim of the Legislative Assembly, from Koshi to Bagmati and Karnali, voices are being raised that 'stopping Bhandari is not right'.
In the last week of July in this Meso, there was a commotion and sloganeering in the meeting of Koshi province held in Hille of Dhankuta. State members Roshan Basnet, DB Karki, Anju Pandey, Bhojpur President Makar Khadka and other pro-Bhandari leaders came out strongly demanding to correct point number 6 of Inter-Party Directive (APANI). In that point, it is mentioned that 'membership of Bhandari will not be renewed'.
