Kathmandu, Sept. 25 -- Former president Bidya Devi Bhandari's return to an influential position in the CPN-UML, barely a year after the party put her membership on hold, has brought into focus the changing power dynamics between her and party chair KP Sharma Oli.

The UML central committee meeting that ended Thursday nominated Bhandari as a senior leader, placing her in second place in party hierarchy. The decision, however, has raised questions because the current UML statute does not provide for a post called 'senior leader.'

Bhandari's return follows a year of dispute over whether she should resume party politics after two terms as the country's President. She announced her return to active party politics a year ago.

In May this year...