KATHMANDU: The Standing Committee (SC) meeting of CPN UML held at the party office in Balkhu, Kathmandu on Friday decided to solve growing intra-party conflicts through discussion among its members. General Secretary of UML Ishwor Pokhrel said the meeting directed the leaders not to speak against the party members in public as it tarnishes the party’s image. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who attended the meeting said that the intra-party rifts should be resolved through discussions within the party rather than in public.

The rifts inside the UML surfaced after UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal dissolved the Kathmandu District Committee as per the 'party decision' and senior leader K.P. Sharma Oli was miffed at Khanal’s move. From then onwards there have been verbal fights between Khanal and Oli which were witnessed in public programmes at different places. It has been reported that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has initiated efforts to resolve the growing conflicts within the party, said sources.