Nepal, Oct. 1 -- After a long push, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has returned to party politics as a senior CPN-UML leader. On September 24, the party's central committee nominated her to a position that the party statute does not even recognise.

Bhandari has continuously attempted to return to the party after completing her second term in Sheetal Niwas in early 2023. She had particularly pushed to get back into the party last year after party chair KP Sharma Oli's position weakened following his ouster as prime minister. But Oli's strong resistance foiled her attempts.

This time around, with Oli further cornered in the party and his long-time close aides, including vice-chair Bishnu Paudel and general secretary Shankar Pokhrel,...