KATHMANDU: Resham Chaudhary, the patron of the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), has appointed his father Lalbir Chaudhary as the new party chairman.

During the party’s first national gathering, which began in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Resham expelled the current chairperson and his wife, Ranjita Chaudhary.

Ranjita, who had appointed senior vice-chairman Shiva Bastola as acting chairman earlier amid internal disputes, has now been formally expelled from the party by decision of the national gathering led by Resham.

Last Friday, a majority of the central committee members had given her a 24-hour ultimatum to call a meeting, prompting her to hand over the acting leadership to Bastola, citing health issues. She claimed to have done so to avoid disciplinary action.

However, Resham accused her of bypassing the central committee and making unauthorized leadership decisions.