Founding Leader Shiv Prasad Bhandari Returns to CPN-UML in Dolakha

Dolakha. Founding leader of CPN-UML Dolakha, Shiv Prasad Bhandari, has returned to UML. Influential district leaders and cadres, including leader Kalpana Bhandari and former Deputy Mayor of Bhimeshwor Municipality, Shanta Basnet, have returned to UML along with him. Bhandari is a leader who has served two terms as the party chief of UML Dolakha, was a member of the Party Central Disciplinary Commission, and previously served as the Vice Chairman of the District Development Committee (Jivisa).

On Monday morning, during a reunion program organized in Charikot, Bhandari and other returning leaders were formally welcomed back into the party by CPN-UML Dolakha candidate and former Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Parbat Gurung.

The program saw significant participation from leading district leaders and cadres, including UML leader and former Minister Anand Prasad Pokharel, founding leaders of UML Dolakha Jitbir Lama and Lal Kumar KC, and Central Committee members Rachana Khadka and Shyam Kumar Basnet.

Speaking at the reunion program, leader Bhandari stated that UML can only achieve victory when its entire strength unites and approaches the public. He called upon all leaders and cadres to actively engage in coordination and cooperation to make the party the leading force in Dolakha. He remarked, "We must now go to the doorsteps of the people with a message of unity, not division and internal conflict."

Leader Bhandari also expressed his full commitment to ensuring the victory of the UML candidate Parbat Gurung in the upcoming elections. He stated, "UML's victory is essential for the development and stability of Dolakha."

Four years ago, following the split of UML, leader Bhandari held the responsibility of a Politburo member in CPN (Unified Socialist). During the party's general convention, he contested for the post of Deputy General Secretary from the Ghanashyam Bhusal panel. The majority faction led by Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, which decided to align only with the Maoists bypassing UML, did not include the majority segment in Dolakha that supported Bhandari, who disagreed with the decision, in the unity move.

UML leaders expressed confidence that the return of Bhandari and other leaders will further strengthen the organization of UML in Dolakha. They expect that the experience of the old leaders and their influence among the cadres will add positive energy to the upcoming election campaign.