JD(U) breaks its 17-year-old alliance with BJP in Bihar

Putting an end to all the speculations, the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday finally announced that there would not be any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Bihar government.

Addressing a press conference here, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said that the developments in the last six months had made things difficult for them to work together with the BJP.

"We were in the NDA for 17 years and we had a national agenda that was formed with Atalji and Advaniji. We have tried to stick to the framework of the NDA but for the past 6-7 months situation has changed," he said.

"Any alliance runs by friendship and trust - we tried our best to run the alliance," he added

Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor D Y Patil following the Cabinet meet called by him, that was skipped by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers.

Talking to media after meeting, Nitish Kumar said that he had sought fresh vote of confidence to prove his majority in the House, and had requested for a special Assembly session to be convened on June 21.

"We will show we have majority support in the Assembly," said Nitish Kumar.

Earlier in the day, BJP's eleven ministers in the Bihar cabinet skipped an emergency meet called by Nitish Kumar.

"What is the point in us being there unless the Chief Minister clarifies his stand on the alliance?" asked Mangal Pandey, a senior leader of the BJP.

The BJP had earlier asked Nitish Kumar to quit and seek a fresh mandate if the ruling BJP-JD-U coalition splits.

JD (U) has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly and needs the support of only four more MLAs to have a majority.

There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.