Former President should remain active in social role: UML general-secretary Pokhrel

Kathmandu: CPN (UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel clarified that the party did not agree to have former President Bidya Devi Bhandari return to active politics to strengthen democracy.

At a programme organised by UML Publicity and Publication Department here on Wednesday to disclose decisions of the ninth central committee meeting, Pokhrel argued that former President Bhandari’s entry to UML would strengthen the party, but weaken democracy.

“The issue of reverting the former President to active politics should be taken given democracy and the future of the entire nation. It is not good to strengthen the party by weakening the values of democracy”, he noted.

The UML general-secretary argued that former President Bhandari should discharge the role of guardian without returning to active politics, adding that the party has expected her role to show a right path to the country and become active in a social role.

Similarly, Department Chief Rajendra Gautam shared the UML central committee meeting decided that the issue of bringing individuals who held constitutional positions like President and Vice-President to party politics would not be in accordance with the constitutional spirit.