The merger plan of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has hit a snag at the last moment. The right wing parties were scheduled to announce their merger on Tuesday.

The last-moment cancellation of merger was announced by RPP Chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana. “The merger is not possible for the time being,” said Rana in a press statement issued on Monday evening.

Leaders from both the parties have said they are shocked at the “unilateral decision” of Rana. “Even I don’t know what led our chairman to call off the merger plan,” said RPP General Secretary Buddhi Man Tamang.

Issuing a statement, the RPP-N also said Rana’s decision has startled the party.

What led Rana to take such a decision is yet to be known, but it is believed that the RPP’s decision to join the government on Monday could have resulted in the cancellation of the two right wing parties’ unification.

Earlier on Monday, the RPP decided to send its two leaders to the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government. Dipak Bohara and Bikram Pandey, both general secretaries of the RPP, were inducted into the Cabinet on Monday. Both were administered the oath of office by the President on Monday itself. The parties had earlier agreed to wait for 15 days to decide on joining the government. Rana was under pressure to nominate Bohara and Pandey as the ministers.

Bohara was minister in the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government as well.

The RPP had voted for Dahal while the RPP-N had voted against during the prime ministerial election in Parliament on Wednesday.

After cancellation of merger plan, RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa termed Rana’s decision unfortunate.

“This morning I told Pashupati Shumsher to choose between party unity and the government. His choice has disappointed party cadres who were for unity,” Thapa tweeted.