Old wine, old bottle

As the CPN-UML spends the next few years sorting out its internal mess, its popularity could further tank.

There was an air of inevitability around former President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s return to active politics. Ever since completing her second term as the head of state in March 2023, she had been repeatedly hinting at a possible comeback. On Saturday, Bhandari officially announced her reentry into the CPN-UML, a party once led by her charismatic late husband Madan Bhandari and where she previously served as vice-chair. Over the past few weeks and months, there has been plenty of commentary on the unsuitability of the return of the once occupier of the highest office in the land to active politics. It also sets a troubling precedent on conflict of interest. Yet if there is a sliver of silver lining in this otherwise dark cloud of self-centric politics, it is that, for the first time in years, KP Sharma Oli will have someone challenging his authority in the party. The current prime minister and UML chair had systematically crushed dissent and prevented the rise of any rival leaders. Oli, with his loud mouth and go-it-alone approach, also appeared increasingly willing to undermine public sentiment.