In an obvious attempt to ruffle the feathers of the Surya Bahadur Thapa-led dissenting fraction, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati SJB Rana Tuesday slammed the decision of the government side to call the meeting of the Central Council, saying that it is a ploy to head the party towards vertical split.

“Central Council meet can only be called by the chairman. The decision of the government side is an attempt to break the party unity,” said the RPP chief. He expressed this while speaking at a program organized today in Birgunj to mark the 13th day of demise of Gopal Giri, then mayor of Birgunj Sub-metropolitan City who was shot dead by the Maoists on January 15.

Poking fun at the decision of the dissenting fraction, Rana said: ”The ministers have announced the meeting of the council whereas they have no authority to do so. What should I do then? Call the meeting of the Council of Ministers?”

A meeting of Thapa-led RPP fraction had on Monday announced the council’s meeting on February 21-22 while the party establishment has declared that it will only be called by mid-March.

He claimed that the party had no other option than to ask the Prime Minister to step down as the result of his unilateral moves. He also charged the government of failing to provide security to the appointed members of local bodies.

“A mayor has been gunned down in broad daylight. Is this not an indication that the government is a complete failure?” he further added.

Rana, however, assured the party workers that he would do his best not let party unity be broken.