Former president Bhandari takes oath as UML senior leader, attends standing committee meeting

Former president Bidya Devi Bhandari has taken the oath as a senior leader of the CPN-UML.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli administered her the oath of office and secrecy during a standing committee meeting at the party's central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur, on Thursday.

According to the UML, this is the first party meeting Bhandari has attended since being named senior leader. The central committee has also given her the responsibility of senior vice-chair.

The UML secretariat's meeting on Asoj 8 had decided to make Bhandari a senior leader, a decision later endorsed by the central committee. Before becoming president, she was a UML vice-chair. Bhandari, who served two terms as president, is returning to party politics after about 11 years.

This is the first standing committee meeting since the party's 11th general convention. The meeting is set to discuss the current political situation, the party's upcoming activities and organizational matters.