KATHMANDU: President Bidhya Bhandari has urged senior CPN-UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal to make reconciliation efforts to end the dispute in the CPN-UML, which has been marred by intra-party rift.

The rift in the UML has been widening with the Prime Minister and party Chairman KP Oli sticking to his guns and the rival faction of Madhav Kumar Nepal and Khanal forming parallel structures in the party.

The President met leader Khanal at his residence in Balkhu on Saturday afternoon to inquire about the latter’s health.

During the meeting, the President conveyed her party-related worries to Khanal. The President was of the view that the two rival UML factions should reunite and stride ahead.

Saying that democracy would strengthen only if political parties were strong and united, she requested Khanal to reconcile the conflict in the party.