<p>Bihar's ruling coalition took another hit Saturday as the BJP told Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to resign and seek a fresh mandate if he decides to break the alliance.<br /><br /></p>.<p>BJP minister Chandra Mohan Rai told the media that the 2010 mandate in Bihar was for the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the BJP to govern the state jointly.<br /><br />"Nitish Kumar should resign as chief minister because people of the state gave the mandate to the NDA (National Democratic Alliance)," he said.<br /><br />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)."<br /><br />The BJP demand came amid mounting tensions in the Bihar coalition following Nitish Kumar's objection to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being projected as the prime ministerial candidate.<br /><br />Modi's growing status in the BJP has not helped matters, with the Gujarat leader's supporters in the Bihar BJP gunning for Nitish Kumar.<br /><br />The war of words is widely expected to lead to the snapping of 17 years of BJP-JD-U alliance. <br /><br />Earlier Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi refused to meet Nitish Kumar, saying the issue of Narendra Modi needed to be taken up with the BJP national leadership.<br /><br />A source close to the chief minister said Nitish Kumar had invited Sushil Modi and Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav of the BJP to discuss the political situation.<br /><br />Yadav, also the state convenor of the NDA, admitted that he and Sushil Modi were invited by Nitish Kumar for discussions.<br /><br />Till recently, Sushil Modi was considered not only close to Nitish Kumar but was an enthusiastic backer of alliance with the JD-U. He has changed his attitude.<br /><br />BJP ministers in Bihar did not attend office the past two days.<br /><br />JD-U leader and Bihar Education Minister P.K. Shahi reiterated that the BJP should clear its stand on Narendra Modi, who the party has named chief of the election campaign committee.<br /><br />"It is not possible for JD-U to be part of an alliance under the leadership of Narendra Modi," Shahi said after meeting the chief minister.<br /><br />Nitish Kumar Thursday described the political situation in Bihar as "difficult".<br />"<br />All eyes are now on JD-U president Shard Yadav, who arrives here Saturday night and will hold meetings with Nitish Kumar and other party leaders.<br /><br />One JD-U leader told IANS that the party had decided to snap its alliance with the BJP and that a formal announcement would be made Sunday.</p>
<p>Bihar's ruling coalition took another hit Saturday as the BJP told Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to resign and seek a fresh mandate if he decides to break the alliance.<br /><br /></p>.<p>BJP minister Chandra Mohan Rai told the media that the 2010 mandate in Bihar was for the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the BJP to govern the state jointly.<br /><br />"Nitish Kumar should resign as chief minister because people of the state gave the mandate to the NDA (National Democratic Alliance)," he said.<br /><br />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)."<br /><br />The BJP demand came amid mounting tensions in the Bihar coalition following Nitish Kumar's objection to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being projected as the prime ministerial candidate.<br /><br />Modi's growing status in the BJP has not helped matters, with the Gujarat leader's supporters in the Bihar BJP gunning for Nitish Kumar.<br /><br />The war of words is widely expected to lead to the snapping of 17 years of BJP-JD-U alliance. <br /><br />Earlier Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi refused to meet Nitish Kumar, saying the issue of Narendra Modi needed to be taken up with the BJP national leadership.<br /><br />A source close to the chief minister said Nitish Kumar had invited Sushil Modi and Road Construction Minister Nand Kishore Yadav of the BJP to discuss the political situation.<br /><br />Yadav, also the state convenor of the NDA, admitted that he and Sushil Modi were invited by Nitish Kumar for discussions.<br /><br />Till recently, Sushil Modi was considered not only close to Nitish Kumar but was an enthusiastic backer of alliance with the JD-U. He has changed his attitude.<br /><br />BJP ministers in Bihar did not attend office the past two days.<br /><br />JD-U leader and Bihar Education Minister P.K. Shahi reiterated that the BJP should clear its stand on Narendra Modi, who the party has named chief of the election campaign committee.<br /><br />"It is not possible for JD-U to be part of an alliance under the leadership of Narendra Modi," Shahi said after meeting the chief minister.<br /><br />Nitish Kumar Thursday described the political situation in Bihar as "difficult".<br />"<br />All eyes are now on JD-U president Shard Yadav, who arrives here Saturday night and will hold meetings with Nitish Kumar and other party leaders.<br /><br />One JD-U leader told IANS that the party had decided to snap its alliance with the BJP and that a formal announcement would be made Sunday.</p>