Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to Patna this afternoon from a tour and virtually announced that his alliance with the BJP is over. "It is time to take a decision... conditions are tough now," he said, though he looked relaxed and smiled as he offered an obituary of his partnership. "Dua dete hai jeene ki, dawa karte hai marne ki (You wish me a long life, but offer medicines that will poison me)." The remark alludes to the BJP's decision to grant VVIP status to Narendra Modi, which has driven the alliance to break point.