Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari to Visit China Amid Political Activism Rumors

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari is set to visit China soon, sparking speculation about her re-entry into party politics. The visit comes at the invitation of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), with Bhandari’s daughter, Ushakiran Bhandari, accompanying her. This trip is reportedly being organized with the initiative or consent of UML President KP Sharma Oli.

A team from UML, in coordination with the Foreign Department of the CPC, is arranging the visit. “Former President Bhandari received an invitation from China about a year ago, and the Chinese side expressed a verbal desire for this visit,” stated a leader involved in the preparations.

This will be Bhandari’s first foreign trip since she left the presidential office in 2023 after serving two terms. Since stepping down, Bhandari has been increasingly active politically and socially. Recently, UML appointed her as the chief guest at the National Women’s Gathering amid talks of her resurgence in party politics.

In a significant gesture, UML President KP Oli, along with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, honored Bhandari with the ‘Ganatantra Gaurav’ award on behalf of the party. These actions suggest Bhandari’s potential return to active politics, with her China visit likely to clarify her future role.

Bhandari has hinted that she may rejoin active politics if invited by the party leadership, seen by many as awaiting a “green signal” from KP Oli. Some UML leaders believe Bhandari is biding her time for the right opportunity to re-enter party politics, possibly playing a significant role in uniting UML and the Maoist Center.

The Chinese Communist Party might also see Bhandari’s visit as an opportunity for her to mediate a similar unification. The composition of Bhandari’s delegation could further signal her political intentions. While it is unclear whether leaders from other parties will join her, some UML members, including Deputy Secretary General and former Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, are expected to be part of the team. Her daughter Ushakiran Bhandari and members of her former presidential secretariat might also join.

Although it is uncertain if Bhandari will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, she is scheduled to meet some key leaders of the CPC Standing Committee in Beijing. During her presidency, Bhandari made a state visit to China in 2019, where she met President Xi and participated in the first Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum. They agreed on the ‘Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network’ and advanced the Nepal-China cross-border railway under the BRI framework.

In October 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Nepal for the first state visit in 23 years, following an invitation from Bhandari. This historical context adds significance to her upcoming visit, potentially influencing Nepal-China relations and her role in Nepalese politics.