KATHMANDU: Chairman of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has said that he, too, was ready to hand over the leadership to the party’s new generation.

Speaking during today’s meeting of the Standing Committee held at the party’s central office in Dhumbarahi, Prachanda said the position was “not a big deal” to institutionalize the system and party unity.

“It is not a big deal who will be the Chairman in front of the change that we have brought, and to institutionalize the party,” a Standing Committee member quoted Prachanda as saying.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister KP Oli had earlier said that he was prepared to hand over the leadership to the new generation.

Prachanda, meanwhile, blamed Prime Minister Oli for the current mess in the party.

“We were forced to retaliate after he started firing at us,” Prachanda said at the meeting. “We only wrote a letter to convene the meeting. We had agreed in person. However, he (PM Oli) made it public,” he said.

Chairman Prachanda said his political proposal would not be withdrawn as requested Prime Minister KP Oli.

“I will not in any way withdraw my proposal,” he told the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee meeting of the NCP concluded today at the party’s headquarters in Dhumbarahi.

PM Oli, meanwhile, did not attend the meeting. PM Oli had reached President’s office in Shital Niwas to discuss the current political scenario with President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

Likewise, the next meeting of the Standing Committee will be held in December 13. Today’s meeting also decided to hold the party’s Central Committee meeting on December 20.

A day earlier during the Secretariat meeting held on Saturday, PM Oli had expressed disagreement over holding SC meeting.

The meeting had witnessed a heated exchange of words among the leaders. Although the meeting was expected to find a ‘way out’ for resolving the dispute, a Secretariat member stated that the verbal assault continued at the meeting as well.

At a meeting held at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar, Chairman Oli had reiterated his old stance.

PM Oli had already indicated that he would not attend the meeting scheduled for today.

Chairman Oli had expressed his disagreement, arguing the meeting was convened sans agendas.

The Prime Minister had reiterated that he will not quit as Prime Minister and party Chairman any time soon. Oli had clarified that he will not resign as Chairman before General Convention and Prime Minister before a parliamentary election.

“There is no justification for the meeting if I am being removed from the post of party Chairman before the General Convention and PM before the general election,” said a Secretariat member quoting irate Prime Minister, “I will not give up either of these positions. ”

The NCP’s top leadership is still divided over the formal discussions on the written response presented by PM and Chairperson Oli at the meeting on November 28 and the written paper presented by another Chairperson Kamal Prachanda at the meeting on November 13.