New Delhi - The Indian Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, resigned last night after the Congress party's decision to withdraw its make-or-break support for his coalition.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh state and convenor of the ruling alliance, Mr Chandrababu Naidu, told reporters that Mr Gujral's United Front would not support any new government which the Congress party or the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to form.
"We have made it clear to the government that we will not support a BJP government. The United Front is ready to face up to all consequences. It's up to the President to act now," Mr Naidu said.
However, he said Mr Gujral had not recommended to President K. R. Narayanan that parliament be dissolved and added that the President would "try to find an alternative".
Mr Narayanan could ask either the BJP - the biggest party - or the Congress party to try and form a majority. If he is not convinced that they can do that, then mid-term elections would be called.