Nitish Kumar has left the INDIA bloc and joined hands with the BJP
A key regional leader broke away from India's Opposition alliance on Sunday and was set to join hands again with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, in a major blow to PM Modi's challengers months before general elections.
Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, gave his resignation to the Governor. Mr Kumar told news agency ANI that not everything was alright with the alliance.
"Today, I have resigned as the Chief Minister and I have also told the Governor to dissolve the government in the state. This situation came because not everything was alright," Mr Kumar said.
Mr Kumar's departure weakens Opposition parties which had decided to set aside their differences last year to form an alliance called INDIA to take on the BJP in general elections due by May.
Mr Kumar was instrumental in bringing together Opposition parties to form the 28-party alliance, which includes the Congress party.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said that the BJP was scared of the alliance and this "political drama had been created" to divert attention.
The alliance was already facing serious turbulence last week with member Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and the head of Trinamool Congress party, saying it will contest Bengal alone.
Similarly, another member, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which rules Delhi and Punjab, said it will not ally with Congress in Punjab.