Patna, May 29 (IANS): BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Friday cautioned his party leadership against an alliance between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, which if finalised, could pose a challenge for the party in the next Bihar assembly polls.

"Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad are still popular and enjoy wide social support base. If the two leaders formally finalise their alliance (between Janata Dal-United and Rashtriya Janata Dal), it would not be an easy fight for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It would be a tough challenge for BJP in Bihar assembly polls," said Bollywood actor-turned-politician Sinha.

Observing that the "party leaders should not treat our rivals as weak and outdated", Sinha said BJP should chalk out a new strategy because it would be the first time when Nitish and Lalu have come together against the BJP.

He said BJP requires a captain, who could lead in the next Bihar assembly polls against main rival Nitish Kumar.

"There is a need of a captain for BJP ahead of the upcoming state assembly polls. BJP should project a leader against its main rival," Sinha told media persons here.

He said the party's rival was tried, tested and popular. "The party central parliamentary board and state leaders together should finalise the name of a captain to lead in the state polls."

Sinha said the party should be led by such a leader whose image is clean, tested, and popular and who has mass-appeal that would help the party.

"I am not in the race for chief minister. But if the party wanted, I would be ready for any responsibility," he said.