<p>Amid increasingly strained relations within Bihar's ruling coalition, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar admitted Friday that the situation was "difficult now".<br /><br />Most BJP ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, skipped office for a second straight day Friday.<br /><br />"The situation is difficult now," he told the media on his return to Patna after concluding Sewa Yatra, when asked about the relations between his Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).<br /><br />The chief minister then recited an Urdu couplet: "Dua dete hai jeene ki, dawa dete hai marne ki."<br /><br />Without taking names, he said some BJP leaders wanted the 17-year-old alliance between the two parties in the state to continue "but are not ready to listen us".<br />Nitish Kumar said JD-U leaders will discuss the state of affairs. "We will decide what to do after deliberating in the party."<br /><br />According to JD-U leaders, Nitish Kumar will first meet party leaders considered close to him to get their feedback and some other colleagues Saturday.<br /><br />The "final meeting" on the subject is likely to be held Saturday night or Sunday morning in the presence of JD-U president Sharad Yadav, a party source said.<br /><br />There are 11 BJP ministers in the Nitish Kumar-led government.<br /><br />Relations between the two hit a low after Nitish Kumar came out publicly against his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial choice of the BJP.</p>.<p><br />The JD-U also expressed unhappiness over BJP leader L.K. Advani's decision to give up key party posts. BJP leaders have accused the JD-U of interfering in BJP's internal affairs.<br /><br />Also Friday, Bihar BJP president Mangal Pandey said the JD-U will be responsible if the alliance collapsed in the state.<br /><br />The BJP has also called a meeting of party leaders at Sushil Modi's residence to discuss the strained ties between the BJP and JD-U.<br /><br />"It is an emergency situation, so more meetings would be held to chalk out a strategy," BJP's C.P. Thakur told the media.<br /><br />The JD-U is believed to be gearing up for life without the BJP.<br />According to JD-U leaders, the party is in touch with over a dozen BJP legislators including ministers.<br /><br />There was some good news for the JD-U though. Four of the six independent legislators have announced their support to the government.<br /><br />Even the Congress, with four legislators, is likely to support Nitish Kumar if he dumps the BJP.<br /><br />The JD-U has 118 legislators, four short of majority in the house of 243 members.<br /></p>
<p>Amid increasingly strained relations within Bihar's ruling coalition, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar admitted Friday that the situation was "difficult now".<br /><br />Most BJP ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, skipped office for a second straight day Friday.<br /><br />"The situation is difficult now," he told the media on his return to Patna after concluding Sewa Yatra, when asked about the relations between his Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).<br /><br />The chief minister then recited an Urdu couplet: "Dua dete hai jeene ki, dawa dete hai marne ki."<br /><br />Without taking names, he said some BJP leaders wanted the 17-year-old alliance between the two parties in the state to continue "but are not ready to listen us".<br />Nitish Kumar said JD-U leaders will discuss the state of affairs. "We will decide what to do after deliberating in the party."<br /><br />According to JD-U leaders, Nitish Kumar will first meet party leaders considered close to him to get their feedback and some other colleagues Saturday.<br /><br />The "final meeting" on the subject is likely to be held Saturday night or Sunday morning in the presence of JD-U president Sharad Yadav, a party source said.<br /><br />There are 11 BJP ministers in the Nitish Kumar-led government.<br /><br />Relations between the two hit a low after Nitish Kumar came out publicly against his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial choice of the BJP.</p>.<p><br />The JD-U also expressed unhappiness over BJP leader L.K. Advani's decision to give up key party posts. BJP leaders have accused the JD-U of interfering in BJP's internal affairs.<br /><br />Also Friday, Bihar BJP president Mangal Pandey said the JD-U will be responsible if the alliance collapsed in the state.<br /><br />The BJP has also called a meeting of party leaders at Sushil Modi's residence to discuss the strained ties between the BJP and JD-U.<br /><br />"It is an emergency situation, so more meetings would be held to chalk out a strategy," BJP's C.P. Thakur told the media.<br /><br />The JD-U is believed to be gearing up for life without the BJP.<br />According to JD-U leaders, the party is in touch with over a dozen BJP legislators including ministers.<br /><br />There was some good news for the JD-U though. Four of the six independent legislators have announced their support to the government.<br /><br />Even the Congress, with four legislators, is likely to support Nitish Kumar if he dumps the BJP.<br /><br />The JD-U has 118 legislators, four short of majority in the house of 243 members.<br /></p>