[7][8][9] She also served as the Minister of Environment and Population in 1997, and has been an active campaigner for environmental awareness and women's rights in Nepal.

After completing her school level study, Bhandari was enrolled in Mahendra Morang Adarsha Multiple Campus where she was elected treasurer of the students' union.

Also, she played a pivotal role as chairperson of the women's wing of GEFONT from 1993 until being elected a central committee member of the CPN (UML) in 1997.

Bhandari was first elected to the parliament in a by-election in January 1994, caused by the death of her husband, the sitting member from Kathmandu–1, where she defeated former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

Her influence in the party remained dominant when she was elected as vice-chairperson of the CPN (UML) in its eighth general convention held in Butwal.

[20] Bhandari has been accused of taking a partisan stance when she approved both the decisions of cabinet to dissolve the House of Representatives against the Constitution of Nepal.

She did not appoint Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime Minister of Nepal, although showing majority signature present in House.

This was celebrated by the then opposition alliance led by the Nepali Congress, including allies CPN (Maoist Centre) and Janata Samajbadi Party.

[23] On 13 July 2021, Bhandari appointed Deuba as prime minister without including any article of Constitution and stating as per the order of Court.

[24] On February 10, 2023, a doctor was beaten up by Nepal police while returning home after finishing work, accusing him of being unable to travel during the president's motorcade, which reminded him of the history of dictatorial Rana rules.