In a further souring of ties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday told Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to quit and seek a fresh mandate if Bihar's ruling coalition splits.

BJP leader and minister Chandra Mohan Rai told the media: "Nitish Kumar should resign as chief minister because people of the state gave the mandate to the NDA in 2010."
Rai said Nitish Kumar should not continue as chief minister if his Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and BJP parted ways in the state amid ongoing tensions.

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)."