Patna:
Bihar's ruling coalition took another hit today as the BJP told Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to resign and seek a fresh mandate if he decides to break the alliance.
BJP minister Chandra Mohan Rai told the media that the 2010 mandate in Bihar was for the Janata Dal United (JDU) and the BJP to govern the state jointly.
"Nitish Kumar should resign as chief minister because people of the state gave the mandate to the NDA (National Democratic Alliance)," he said.
Another BJP leader and MP Hukumdeo Narain Yadav, too, made the same demand. "Nitish Kumar should resign and go for fresh elections (if the alliance breaks)."
The BJP demand came amid mounting tensions in the Bihar coalition following Mr Kumar's objection to Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi being projected as the prime ministerial candidate.
(At break point, a look at what Nitish has against Narendra Modi)Mr Modi's growing status in the BJP has not helped matters, with the Gujarat leader's supporters in the Bihar unit gunning for Mr Kumar.
The war of words is widely expected to lead to the snapping of the 17-year-old alliance.
Earlier today, Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi refused to meet Mr Kumar, saying the issue of Mr Modi needed to be taken up with the BJP national leadership.
(Read)A source close to the chief minister said Mr Kumar had invited his deputy and Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav of the BJP to discuss the political situation.
Mr Yadav, also the state convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), admitted that he and Sushil Kumar Modi were invited by Mr Kumar for discussions.
Till recently, Sushil Kumar Modi was considered not only close to Mr Kumar but was an enthusiastic supporter of the alliance with the JDU. He has now changed his attitude.
BJP ministers in Bihar have not attended office in the past two days.
JDU leader and Bihar Education Minister PK Shahi reiterated that the BJP should clear its stand on Narendra Modi, whose party has named him chief of the election campaign committee.
"It is not possible for JDU to be part of an alliance under the leadership of Narendra Modi," Mr Shahi said after meeting the chief minister.
Nitish Kumar had, on Thursday, described the political situation in Bihar as "difficult".
All eyes are now on JDU president Shard Yadav, who will arrives in Patna later today and will hold meetings with Mr Kumar and other party leaders.
One JDU leader told IANS that the party had decided to snap its alliance with the BJP and that a formal announcement would be made on Sunday.