KATHMANDU: A Standing Committee (SC) meeting of the Nepal-Khanal faction of CPN-UML has floated the exit of party Chairman KP Sharma Oli as a precondition for the party unification.

The SC meeting convened at Kwality Banquet in Buddhanagar decided to continue rendering efforts until Oli announces a breakaway from the mother party, informed UML leader Metmani Chaudhari.

Chaudhari further said that the meeting will also dwell on forming a new party since there is a slim chance for the party unification.

The disgruntled faction has held a SC meeting prior to the CC meetingg to set agenda items for the CC meeting.

Following the SC meeting, the CC meeting will take place at same venue, said a leader close to UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The CC meeting will discuss the current political situation, the possibility of joining the government and the issue of party unity.

The CC meeting scheduled for Wednesday had been postponed for today saying that some CC members were outside the Kathmandu Valley.

Meanwhile, party  Chairman KP Sharma Oli has taken exception to the CC meeting called by the disgruntled faction.

Central Party Office Secretary Sher Bahadur Tamang has issued a press note objecting to the meeting. Tamang, in the press release, has stated that party Chairman Oli’s attention has been drawn to the activities against the party statute, constitution and prevailing law.

The prolonged dispute in the UML has taken a new height with both the factions sticking to their respective stances.

While UML Chairman KP Oli has already urged leaders of the disgruntled faction, sans senior leader Nepal, to join the party, senior leader Nepal has been insisting on a “dignified” unity.