JD-U won't deviate from basic principles: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Sunday said the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) decided to end its alliance with the BJP because it won't betray its "basic principles".

"We are not responsible for ending the alliance with the BJP. In fact we are compelled and pushed to this situation so as not to compromise with our basic principles," Nitish Kumar told the media.

He said his party was not afraid of the consequences. "We don't care for the repercussion, we are not worried."

Nitish Kumar has come out strongly against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who will head the BJP's election campaign in the Lok Sabha election due next year.

Nitish Kumar said it had become difficult to continue the 17-year-old alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "We cannot compromise with our principles."

JD-U president Sharad Yadav announced Sunday that his party had ended its alliance with the BJP. He also quit as convenor of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).