Patna, Feb. 23: Sushil Kumar Modi hinted on Monday that all was not well between the JDU and the RJD. Why else, he wondered, was Nitish Kumar taking so much time for the vote of confidence, even after getting the support of RJD legislators.

A day after Nitish took oath as chief minister replacing Jitan Ram Manjhi, the BJP camp is definitely on an attack mode.

Modi, who was Nitish's deputy for years, asked why the chief minister was delaying the Assembly's budget session when the governor's speech and the annual budget were all ready. The veteran BJP leader claimed that the delay was because of the discord with the RJD and fears of not getting support from the RJD camp.

Modi said: "Lalu and his family members excused themselves from Nitish's swearing-in on Sunday, citing their daughter's wedding, when leaders from different political parties and three chief ministers attended the function. It clearly shows there is a discord between RJD and JDU."

Giving examples of earlier instances, Modi said Nitish, when he took oath as chief minister in 2010, proved his vote of confidence within five days. Even Manjhi proved his majority just three days after taking oath.

Nitish, who took oath on February 22, has been given three weeks to prove his majority, by March 16.

Sources said, there is mutual consent between Raj Bhavan and the chief minister while deciding the day or date when the chief minister has to seek vote of confidence.

The BJP leader also attacked Nitish on his claim that governance would be his top priority. Modi said: "How can Nitish focus on governance with the same pack of ministers who were earlier in the Manjhi government?"

Modi's argument assumes importance as Nitish's cabinet, which took oath on Sunday, has the same portfolios, which the ministers had during Manjhi's tenure.

The portfolios, held by seven ministers who had sided with Manjhi, are being looked after by Nitish himself. Modi, attacking Nitish, said development in the state came to a standstill after Nitish broke ties with the NDA in 2013 and wondered how Nitish could bring the state back on the right track in just six months before the elections.