Kathmandu, Aug 22: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, who has resumed political activities despite resistance inside the CPN-UML, has received backing from three party officials.

Senior Vice-Chairman Ishwar Pokhrel, Vice-Chairman Yubraj Gyawali, and Vice-Chairman Surendra Pandey, who serve under Chairman KP Sharma Oli’s committee, have openly stood by her. They appeared alongside Bhandari at a program in Thapagaun, Kathmandu, on Thursday, where she inaugurated her liaison office, signaling their support.

Earlier, leaders Gyawali and Pandey had argued in the central committee meeting that the former president should not be barred from engaging in party politics. But the UML central committee meeting that concluded on July 21 decided otherwise. Citing constitutional provisions that a former president should remain as a guardian figure for the nation, the meeting ruled that Bhandari could not re-enter active politics and therefore her party membership could not be maintained.

Disagreeing with this, Gyawali and Pandey submitted a note of dissent. They objected that their differing views were not reflected in the party’s internal directive and requested that the matter be discussed in the next meeting.

Defying UML’s institutional stance, Bhandari has pressed ahead with her return to active politics. Her new office will operate under the name “Madan Bhandari 75th Birth Anniversary Main Management Committee.”

People’s News Monitoring Service