The leadership of the WA Nationals is in limbo with the party refusing to say whether Brendon Grylls had persuaded colleagues he should return to the top job.
Mr Grylls refused to comment as he left a marathon four hour meeting that failed to resolve the issue.
He had earlier spoken confidently on the way in to the meeting about how he should be leader again because the coalition was heading for defeat in next year's election.
"Because I do not believe we're in a winnable position, I believe we need new ideas and a new plan to win the hearts and minds of country people and all of WA," he told reporters.
Terry Redman, the leader since Mr Grylls voluntarily stepped down in 2013, and still leader for at least another day, said he was disappointed the issue was made public and he would fight to stay.
Deputy leader Mia Davies said the meeting was adjourned, with the 12 WA Nationals MPs to resume the meeting on Tuesday.
Mr Grylls' new ideas and plan include a proposed multi-billion-dollar tax on BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto to raise revenue.
The $5 a tonne tax would protect government revenue unlike current royalty arrangements in which a falling iron ore price has hurt income.
But the big miners successfully rejected a mining tax when the Rudd federal Labor government tried to impose it.
Mr Grylls' proposal was lambasted by Mines and Petroleum Minister Sean L'Estrange, State Development Minister Bill Marmion and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy.
The Pilbara MP's bold move is linked to its larger coalition partner the Liberals, with Mr Grylls reportedly keen to see Premier Colin Barnett replaced.
He described WA's finances as in a "precarious state", with it getting the lowest share of GST revenue in the nation in recent years, debt and deficits at record highs and job insecurity rising.
