Bhandari could become Nepal’s first woman President

Vice-chairperson of Nepal’s ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist Bidhya Bhandari could become the Himalayan nation’s first woman head of state.

Updated on: Oct 27, 2015, 16:31:33 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Vice-chairperson of Nepal’s ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist Bidhya Bhandari could become the Himalayan nation’s first woman head of state.

Nepalese presidential candidate nominated by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) Bidhya Bhandari (C) waves after filing her candidacy papers for the Presidency in Kathmandu on October 27. (AFP)

The 54-year-old widow of popular communist leader Madan Bhandari heads the list of three candidates who filed their nominations on Tuesday. The election for the president’s post will be held on Wednesday.

Kul Bahadur Gurung of Nepali Congress and Narayan Maharjan of Nepal Workers Peasants Party are the two other candidates in fray.

But with support from coalition partners Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik, Bhadari’s win is almost certain.

A candidate needs 299 votes to win and Bhandari who has support of more than 300 lawmakers from nearly dozen parties is expected to sail through.

If elected, Bhandari will replace Nepal’s first President, Ram Baran Yadav, who was elected in 2008 after a 10-year-long civil war that replaced the country’s 240-year-old monarchy.

Lawmakers from four Madhesi parties, who are protesting against the new constitution, have stated that they would abstain from Wednesday’s election.

Election to the post of vice-President which was also to take place together has been postponed till Saturday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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