Women in Nepali politics: The president that made you ‘proud’ is leaving. What’s next?

President Bidya Devi Bhandari is retiring next month after completing two terms in the top political office in the country. While her stay in office has been criticised for many wrongs , there is at least one thing that almost every Nepali agrees about; President Bhandari gave an example of the growing presence of women in Nepali politics.

An election has been scheduled for March 9 to elect Bhandari’s successor, but there is no female candidate contesting . It means the country might still find a woman to be the vice president as the constitution requires representatives of different genders OR ethnic groups in the top two positions. But, everyone knows the vice presidency is a frustrating job .