NEW DELHI Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee threatened to resign Tuesday unless his coalition allies backed a resolution endorsing the sacking of a state government, alliance sources said. Presiding over an emergency cabinet Tuesday, Vajpayee let it be known among his many allies that he would step down if they let him down over the Bihar state issue. We were informed the prime minister was serious about resigning if he was embarassed in (the lower house), a leader of the pro-government Telugu Desam Party said.

We are taking the threat seriously, a party source told AFP. Vajpayee's cabinet number two, Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, said: We are discussing all possibilities, when grilled by reporters about the outcome of the meeting. Indian parliament adjourned Tuesday barely an hour after it opened amid uproarious protests by opposition members against the imposition of direct federal rule in the eastern state of Bihar, AP said.

As soon as the house opened, opposition lawmakers rose from their seats and stood in the aisles shouting ``Shame, Shame,'' making it difficult for the house speaker to begin business. A short debate on recent attack on Christians and government subsidy cuts began, but soon degenerated into bickering over Bihar. Legislators rushed into the well of the house, shouting and raising their fists in anger.

The speaker then adjourned the house for two hours, an hour earlier than the usual lunch break. Parliament must ratify the presidential declaration of federal rule in Bihar, where a series of bloody caste clashes prompted Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to rule law and order had collapsed. The motion for ratification will face stiff opposition by several parties, including some members of the current Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government.

The main opposition Congress Party has also said it doesn't support federal government rule in the state. BJP and position parties into trying to topple it.