No one can defeat Narendra Modi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday opened up on why he broke up with RJD chief Lalu Yadav after nearly twenty months of sharing power together in the state.

Patna: Breaking his silence on why he decided to part ways with RJD chief Lalu Yadav after nearly twenty months of sharing power together in the state, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that it was getting difficult for him to tolerate the wrong doings of his party's former ally.

Addressing a press briefing in the state capital, Nitish said that it was getting difficult for him to tolerate the corruption allegedly done by Lalu Yadav's family members.

I kept tolerating Lalu Prasad so that the 'Mahagathbandhan' remained intact, but it became impossible to continue, the Bihar CM said.

Referring to the CBI raids on Lalu Yadav's family members, Nitish Kumar said, ''When issue of corruption came up, it made me realise how can I compromise on corruption.''

I spoke to Lalu many times. I told him that he should issue a clarification on the CBI raids, the Bihar CM said.

But, he kept defending his son, he added.

Attacking his critics, the Bihar CM said, ''I don't need any certificate from anybody on secularism,'' adding that 'it can't be used to amass huge wealth illegally.'

Bihar CM also attacked Lalu for making objectionable statements against the 'Grand Alliance', while claiming that none from JD(U) said anything against the RJD chief.

On realigning with BJP, the Bihar CM said the proposal in this regard came from BJP's top leadership. 

''PM tweeted as well, ''Nitish Kumar said, while replying to a question on JD(U)-BJP alliance. 

The Bihar JDU leader also showered praise on PM Narendra Modi and said, ''No one is capable of challenging Modi ji in 2019 Lok Sabha elections".  

The remarks from the Bihar CM came hours after his party colleague Sharad Yadav expressed his strong displeasure over Nitish Kumar's decision to join hands with the BJP.

Breaking his silence on the issue, the Janata Dal United veteran said that he "does not agree with" Nitish's decision of joining hands with the BJP and called it "unfortunate".

The senior JD (U) leader further said that Nitish breaking away from the 'Grand Alliance' and allying with the BJP and the NDA goes against the "mandate by the people" who voted overwhelmingly for the former.

"I don't agree with the decision in Bihar, it's unfortunate. The mandate by the people was not for this," said Sharad Yadav, who was JD (U) president until last October.

Last Wednesday, in a shock move, Nitish left the 'Grand Alliance' and allied with the BJP.

He claimed his move was inspired by "conscience" as he couldn't possibly support RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son who was deputy CM, Tejashwi Yadav, following their being named in a CBI corruption case.

While most analysts were aware that Sharad Yadav was unhappy with Nitish's decision, he had maintained a stoic silence thus far, not publicly commenting about it until Monday morning. 

JD(U)'s Rajya Sabha MPs Veerendra Kumar and Ali Anwar have openly criticised Nitish's move to break away from the 'Grand Alliance'.

They also met with Sharad Yadav in Delhi following the break-up of the 'Mahagathbandhan'.