Sharad Yadav free to take his decision: Nitish Kumar

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar on Friday virtually shut the door on any reconciliation with rebel leader Sharad Yadav, saying he is free to take any decision as the alliance with the BJP had the entire party's nod.

"He (Yadav) is free to take his decision. As far as the party is concerned, it has already taken its decision. The decision was not mine alone and it was taken with the consent of the party. If he keeps a different opinion, then he is free to do so," Nitish told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was his first visit to the national capital after he dumped grand alliance partners -- the RJD and the Congress -- and sealed a tie-up with the BJP.

This is Nitish's first direct response to Yadav's open rebellion against the alliance.

Yadav, who is the leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, is on a tour to the eastern state of Bihar.

On Thursday, he had said he remained with the grand alliance. He also claimed that the real JD(U) is with him and the one with Kumar was 'sarkari' JD(U).

Meanwhile, Nitish on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah as his party prepares to join the NDA after forming the government in the state in alliance with the saffron party.

It was Kumar's first visit to the national capital after he jettisoned the alliance with the RJD and the Congress, and sealed a tie-up with the BJP on July 26.

He told reporters after meeting Modi that it was a courtesy call and he will visit Delhi again this month end to discuss Bihar's developmental issues with the prime minister.

He later had a luncheon meeting with Shah in which both leaders are believed to have discussed ongoing political developments and other issues related to the eastern state.