Nov 03, Kathmandu - As pressure grows within the party to renew former President Bidya Devi Bhandari's party membership, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli is preparing to meet with former Vice President Bidya Bhandari and discuss the issue.

After most leaders voted in the secretariat meeting to renew Bhandari's membership, Oli said he would speak on the matter himself, a leader informed.

'The issue of renewing the former president's membership was raised in the secretariat meeting this time as well,' a secretariat member said, 'He (Oli) did not seem to be in favor of renewing it. He said he would speak on his own when pressure started mounting.'

However, Oli has not given any information to former President Bhandari on this issue. According to sources close to Bhandari, no information has been received from Oli about the meeting so far.

Oli, who left the government after the Gen-Z movement, has been under pressure from all sides to renew Bhandari's membership. However, Oli is not ready for that. Even if Oli is ready to renew Bhandari's membership, it is said that Bhandari's membership may be renewed without her being a candidate for the presidency in the 11th General Convention.

The UML has decided to hold its 11th general convention in Kathmandu from Mangsir 10-12. Oli is in the running to repeat as president from that convention. Although no one has spoken out against Oli so far, leaders say there will be a contest for the post of president in the 11th general convention.

A group within the UML is in favor of renewing Bhandari's membership and making her the party president. Senior Vice President Ishwor Pokharel, Vice Presidents Yubaraj Gyawali and Surendra Pandey, and other office bearers are in favor of renewing Bhandari's membership.

After pressure mounted on Oli to renew his membership, he had said that he would meet Bhandari and discuss the matter. However, only the coming days will tell whether Oli really wanted to meet Bhandari or made this statement to settle the matter.