Prime Minister and chair of the ruling Nepal Communist Party KP Sharma Oli has rejected the decision of the Standing Committee held on Sunday in his absence saying that the decision taken by the second chair of the party was against the party statute.

On Sunday the Standing Committee meeting held at Baluwatar after the President Bidya Devi Bhandari endorsed Oli’s decision to dissolve the House had decided to take the proposal of disciplinary action against the party chair to the central committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

“Since I am the first chair of the party, any meeting called by the other chair will not be legitimate,” lawmaker of the dissolved House Krishna Rai quoted Oli as saying. “Dahal was given the chair only to manage him.”

Leaders present in the meeting said Oli said he was forced to take the decision after the leaders were preparing to bring no confidence motion against him and impeachment against the President.

Referring to the meeting of lawmakers called for 1 pm Monday by the other chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior leader Madhav Nepal, Oli said the meeting of the parliamentary party should be called either by the leader or the deputy leader of the parliamentary party, Rai said.

According to leaders participating in the meeting, Oli had tried to convince the lawmakers that it was borne out of compulsion as the leaders did not allow him to move after their demands grew continuously.

“Since I am leading 64 per cent of the total lawmakers 36 per cent of the lawmakers cannot dictate and therefore even the Court cannot challenge my move which is based on the democratic principles practiced throughout the world,” Rai quoted Oli.

During the meeting minister Lekhraj Bhatta, who used to be close confidante of the other chairman Dahal, said there was no reason to oppose Oli’s activities.

“Oli made lots of attempts but Dahal did not support him. So it was necessary to go for a fresh mandate,” another lawmaker Bishal Bhattarai quoted Bhatta as saying in the meeting.

However, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, who was with Oli, did not attend the meeting and was busy meeting with leaders of his own group. A central member, who attended Thapa’s meeting said Thapa could join Dahal’s camp as almost all the leaders suggested him.

During the meeting Oli has announced that he would begin formal activities of the party after a few days and has directed all the lawmakers not to join any meetings or gatherings except the one called by him and the general secretary.