Ruling party chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has skipped the ongoing Standing Committee meeting.

According to a leader, Oli was not present at the meeting which started at around 11:30am on Friday at Baluwatar.

"The prime minister could not attend the meeting as he had prior engagements," said Surya Thapa, Oli’s press advisor.

Other chair of the party, Puhspa Kamal Dahal, is chairing the meeting.

Friday’s meeting is continuation from Wednesday when both chairs Oli and Dahal put forth their views, spending a good chunk of time in trading barbs.

The leader said Standing Committee and Secretariat members are airing their views at the meeting.

As the meeting resumed on Friday, members had asked why Oli was not present.

“Party General Secretary Bishnu Poudel then informed that Oli had sent a message asking to resume the meeting,” said the leader.