As BC Liberals meted out their punishment to an outspoken ex-cabinet minister Friday, B.C. New Democrat Leader Carole James angrily challenged dissidents within her own caucus to drop their individual beefs about her leadership and grow up for the sake of the party and the province.

James, who is facing challenges to her leadership at provincial council meetings this weekend, took another blow Friday with the resignation of her long-time caucus whip.

But the NDP leader said she won't back down without a fight.

She suggested she will rethink her future as party leader following the meetings, which will include a vote on several motions that question her leadership.

"Our party has done this before and somebody has to stand up and say enough, and that's what I'm doing, I'm saying enough," said James, who admitted being angry about the turmoil that has enveloped the New Democrats even as the governing Liberals face the rare spectacle of division within their ranks.

Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell has announced his resignation over the disastrous introduction of the harmonized sales tax, forcing the party into a leadership vote on Feb. 26.

But Campbell's departure couldn't come soon enough for Bill Bennett, the former energy minister who said as much publicly and then unleashed a tirade about the outgoing premier after he was expelled from cabinet last week.

Bennett was kicked out of the Liberal caucus on Friday, yet the New Democrats have been unable to capitalize on the Liberal disarray.

James said the NDP must "grow up" as a party.

"Does the party want to continue this kind of in-fighting? Do they want to continue to tear each other apart?" James told reporters.

"The public of British Columbia must be scratching their head about politics right now. They must be wondering about what is going on."

James said some New Democrats are putting individual concerns ahead of the province and the party. She said she ran to provide voters with a clear choice but "there are clearly some people in the party who are not happy with that."

"There are people who would rather have those old kind of divides," said James, visibly angry. "Well, that's not me."

A few hours before, MLA Katrine Conroy announced she was resigning as caucus whip after five years in the post.

Conroy would not fully discuss the reasons for her resignation other than say, "I feel I no longer have the support of the leader and the caucus."

The Kootenay West MLA joins fellow Kootenay New Democrat Norm Macdonald, who resigned his post as caucus chairman over James's decision to expel caucus member Bob Simpson for critical comments he made about her leadership.

Simpson was ejected after publicly criticizing a speech James delivered to municipal leaders, which he followed up by saying she doesn't appear to have what it takes to be premier of the province.

Conroy said she tried for six weeks to find a way to bring Simpson back into the NDP fold but Simpson said James would not budge.

For her part, James said that Simpson is welcome back -- if he apologizes.

Three New Democrats -- Jenny Kwan, Lana Popham and Claire Trevena -- attended Conroy's press conference to show their support, and Kwan and Popham would not declare their support for James as leader.

"Events will unfold as they will," said Kwan.

Robin Austin, the MLA for Skeena, said the matter remains unresolved but he wouldn't say much more.

"I'm not going to comment on whether there's a rebellion," he said.

Vancouver Island New Democrat Doug Routley also declined comment on James' leadership. Routley's constituency association, however, is one of four that have voted in favour of a full leadership convention at the party's convention next November.

The New Democrat leader did get a boost earlier Friday when several party stalwarts, including former premier Mike Harcourt and party firebrand Joy MacPhail, issued an open letter of support.

And New Democrats Shane Simpson, John Horgan, Raj Chouhan, Kathy Corrigan and Harry Bains voiced support.

"Some of my colleagues need to look at their poly science 101 books and reflect on the future of the NDP," said Horgan. "I support Carole James."

A poll released Friday by Mustel Group Masket Research reveals that James's approval rating has fallen significantly in recent weeks.

In a telephone survey of 502 people conducted in the first half of November, only 33 per cent of respondents said they approved of James's performance, down from 42 per cent in September.

With files from ctvbc.ca