Patna:
In Bihar, the temperature is touching 40 degrees.
The political heat is simmering too between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy, Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP.
In recent months, Sushil Kumar Modi has helped keep the peace between his own party and the Chief Minister over the increasing importance the BJP is signalling for Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Today, Sushil Kumar Modi seemed to indicate that a separation between his party and Mr Kumar's Janata Dal (United) is inevitable.
At a public function in Patna, he said that the BJP will furnish the country's next Prime Minister. Mr Kumar has denied that he is interested in the country's top job, but sources indicate he may privately hold a different view.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Chief Minister, who allegedly hopes to be declared the BJP's prime ministerial candidate was described today by party president Rajnath Singh as "the most popular leader in the country".
His deputy was also cutting about the recent niceties swapped between Mr Kumar and the Congress, which has indicated that the Centre is trying to figure out how to grant the "special status" or financial assistance for Bihar that the chief minister has been aggressively seeking.
Mr Kumar denied this week that he is considering trading in the BJP for the Congress as his partner. But his deputy today said, "There are 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar... and whoever has the might and strength, there will be an alliance with them. Nobody ties up with a weaker party."
Sushil Kumar Modi has often offered Mr Kumar tacit support when he has clashed with the BJP over issues like whether the Gujarat chief minister should be given public importance in Bihar. Siding with the chief minister has been important for his own career and post.
But with Mr Modi striding into the role of BJP favourite, Sushil Kumar Modi is being forced to re-evaluate his stand, say sources.