A senior BJP leader’s veiled threat to split the Rashtriya Janata Dal has triggered a backlash amid speculation that tensions with ally Janata Dal United may be encouraging the BJP to wield its famed defection-inducing skills as an insurance policy.

Bhupender Yadav, BJP national general secretary in charge of Bihar, told his party’s district working committee in Patna on Sunday evening that the RJD could split after the kharmas, the one-month “inauspicious” period that ends with Makar Sankranti on January 15.

“Let (RJD leader) Tejashwi Prasad Yadav save his party if he can. Because of kharmas, we have not reacted to the RJD’s comments. But Makar Sankranti is coming. The party is bound to split,” Bhupender, a Rajya Sabha member who also has charge of Gujarat, said.

“There’s clear frustration in the RJD over dynastic politics and nepotism in the party. Tejashwi should focus on saving his own party.”

Nitish Kumar’s government has a narrow majority in the 243-member Assembly, its 125 seats just 3 clear of the majority mark of 122.

The RJD is the largest party with 75 seats, while the BJP has 74 and the JDU 43. Two smaller ruling allies have four seats each.

Observers said the BJP’s talk of splitting the Opposition was hardly surprising, especially since it would like to secure its position in case Nitish decided to go his separate way.

The RJD dismissed Bhupender’s threat. “We too challenge the BJP to save the government if it can,” spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwary said on Monday. “If it becomes more restless, we shall enter the scene and destroy it in the state during the kharmas — we won’t wait for Makar Sankranti.”

The JDU ostensibly backed Bhupender’s remarks, but with a comment that appeared a dig at the ally over the Arunachal defections. To a reporter’s question, JDU MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh said: “Bhupenderji made no tall claims. If he makes up his mind, he can even get the RJD to merge with the BJP. It won’t be a big deal for him.”