KATHMANDU: The meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) is underway at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

The meeting is being held at a time when the NCP is caught in a quagmire following serious difference among the top brass, particularly between Prime Minister KP Oli and NCP Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal-led camp.

On Tuesday, PM Oli was severely criticized by his own party ‘comrades’ seeking his resignation.

PM Oli has been facing hard time as most of the influential members, besides seeking his resignation, asked him to elucidate his earlier remarks against India, which the party leaders claimed ‘damaged’ NCP’s image.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Oli held a political consultation with his cabinet ministers and copper-bottomed Standing Committee members of the party.

Standing Committee members and ministers close to PM Oli this morning suggested him not to be deterred from the recent developments and the criticism.

Intra-party feuds have resurfaced in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) after Chairman and Prime Minister Oli vehemently accused India of trying to topple his government.

During Tuesday’s meeting, party leaders, including Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior leaders Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal univocally said that they sought PM Oli’s resignation, not the southern neighbor.

“Your resignation was not sought by India, I have asked for it. You cannot rebuff the party’s rules and regulations,” said a standing committee member quoting the top-notch leaders telling the prime minister.

Sources said that Prachanda and PM Oli were engaged in a heated discussion on Tuesday.

Prachanda had then told the meeting that everyone should understand that the task of retaining or removing the Prime Minister would be done from within the party.

Prachanda even accused Oli of tarnishing the party’s image by speaking out against India.

“You have tarnished the image of the party by speaking against India. International relations cannot be balanced by fighting with India,” sources quoted Prachanda as saying.

In response, Prime Minister Oli questioned how exactly what was said at the party meeting was carried out by Indian media, sources said.

Prime Minister Oli, had last week, blamed India for trying to topple his government and that ploys were being hatched against him.

Meanwhile, last week, PM Oli had said it would be a day-dream to even think of ousting him simply because he took a bold step to issue a revised map that angered India.