KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday summoned Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders when a Standing Committee meeting of the party was underway.

The summoning of the leaders saw heated debate at the ongoing meeting of the party.

According to sources, President Bhandari held discussions with NCP Standing Committee members Shankar Pokharel, Pradeep Gyawali, Barshaman Pun, Ghanshyam Bhusal, Janardan Sharma, Surendra Pandey and Devendra Poudel among other leaders for two hours from 9 am.

The source added that President Bhandari had inquired about the Standing Committee meeting and had also suggested the leaders.

Questions were raised during the Standing Committee meeting after a large number of leaders reached the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas without informing Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

At the meeting, Dahal said that it was inappropriate for the President to call for a meeting when an ‘important’ meeting of the party was underway.

In reply, leader Pradeep Gyawali said that they had reached the President’s Office and asked for a pardon for arriving late. Then, leader Bhim Rawal demanded the meeting to discuss whether if it was appropriate for the President to summon the leaders.

Following Rawal’s question, leader Gyawali replied that the issue can’t be discussed which caused an exchange of words between the leaders.

Dahal then stepped in and contained the situation taking the set agendas of the meeting ahead.

Of late, President Bhandari has been accused of being involved in the party’s issues.