Nitish Kumar addresses the media after his meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee.
Bihar Governor KN Tripathi has agreed to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's request for a vote of confidence on February 20, refusing to allow Nitish Kumar, who has staked claim to the post, to prove his majority.
The vote of confidence is to be held through lobby division or a secret ballot.
Mr Kumar is the man chosen by the Janata Dal United for the top job. But Mr Manjhi refuses to step down, claiming he has the support to continue. The party has already sacked Mr Manjhi as its legislature party chief and replaced him with Mr Kumar.
The Governor's decision comes hours after Mr Kumar's meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee. Mr Kumar, who had taken 128 legislators along with him to prove his majority, said he told the President that the Governor was "delaying" a trust vote.
"We want an immediate decision. The delay is polluting the atmosphere and encouraging horse-trading," Mr Kumar said.
Sources in the JDU said Governor Tripathi's decision is expected to spark controversy, as the trust vote will be held after his address to the joint session of the assembly that will start the budget session. The address is prepared by the Chief Minister.
"He (Mr Tripathi) will be reading out an address prepared by a Chief Minister who is supported by only 12 lawmakers,"said Shyam Rajak, a former JDU minister.
Mr Kumar had asked for a test of strength at a special joint session of the Assembly before the Governor's address, arguing it must be clear whose government prepared it.
At Governor Tripathi's behest, the Centre was asked to assess if such a session could be called constitutionally once the budget session has been announced.
"The Governor is virtually following a BJP script. This decision is going to galvanise the non-BJP parties," said Mr Rajak.
Mr Manjhi had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, spurring allegations from the JDU that the BJP was conspiring to break it ahead of the state elections this year.
The BJP has sought to distance itself from the Bihar imbroglio. "Hopefully they will not divert their problem to the BJP," said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.