UML report cites Bidya Devi Bhandari membership row as one reason for election defeat

Kathmandu, August 25

A task force formed to collect suggestions on the restructuring of the CPN-UML has identified the dispute over former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s party membership as one of the reasons behind the party’s electoral defeat.

The report prepared by UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel and submitted to task force coordinator Ram Bahadur Thapa lists six major reasons for the party’s defeat. Internal problems within the party have been identified as one of them.

The report begins its discussion of internal problems by referring to the dispute over Bhandari’s party membership.

“The dispute over the renewal of the former president’s party membership led to divisions within the party ranks,” the report states.

The UML’s decision not to renew the membership of Bhandari, who previously served as the party’s vice-chair, had sparked controversy within the party. A significant section of the UML had criticised the decision, arguing that revoking her party membership was inappropriate.

Because her membership was not renewed, Bhandari was unable to participate in the party’s 11th General Convention.

However, then-senior vice-chair Ishwar Pokhrel formed a panel with Bhandari’s backing and contested the 11th General Convention election. The report also identifies this internal contest as a factor contributing to the UML’s electoral defeat.

“On the eve of the election, the panel-based contest at the party’s 11th General Convention led to organisational divisions and the expansion of factionalism down to the grassroots level,” Pokhrel wrote in the report.

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