KATHMANDU: As many as 61 lawmakers of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) submitted their signatures to the party leadership today in what can be dubbed as a pressure tactic to keep the party intact.

The lawmakers, both from the House of Representatives and National Assembly, made their signatures public at a press conference and submitted them to the party leaders on Sunday.

The lawmakers represent all three factions led by Prime Minister KP Oli, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Jhalanath Khanal.

The party has 174 lawmakers at the HoR while it has 50 lawmakers at the National Assembly.

The lawmakers has initiated a signature campaign a month ago as the party leadership has been involved in intra-party wrangling, particularly on power-sharing issues.

The intra-party dispute in the party has taken a new height in recent times after PM Oli and Dahal have remained adamant to their respective stances.

While Dahal and Nepal have been demanding Oli’s resignation from either one of the posts – Prime Minister or party Chairman – PM Oli is sticking to his stand of not stepping down.