Patna, Sep 12 (PTI) JD(U) spokesperson Nikhil Mandal on Monday resigned from the post he had been holding for more than six years citing "personal reasons".

Former ally BJP, which has been licking its wounds since losing power in Bihar, claimed that the development cited "discomfort" of JD(U) spokespersons in defending Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, their de facto leader.

Also Read | Kerala: Gold Worth Rs 42 Lakh Seized at Kochi Airport, Claims Customs.

Mandal (41), among the youngest spokespersons of the party, announced his resignation on Twitter.

He also shared a screenshot of the communication he sent to the party leadership on his official letter head.

Also Read | Supreme Court Declines Plea To Study Link Between Online Porn and Sex Crimes, Child Abuse; Says 'Can't Set House on Fire To Roast a Pig'.

In his letter which is addressed to no one in particular, Mandal has said, "I am resigning from the post of JD(U) state spokesman. I am thankful to you all for having assigned this post to me since 31.01.2016. Please accept my resignation."

The party's chief spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar, when asked about the development, said "had he resigned because of political reasons I could have said something. But since the reasons have been stated to be personal, it would not be proper to comment".

Meanwhile, state BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand issued a statement wondering whether JD(U) spokespersons were "in a state of discomfort having to defend the Mahagathbandhan which has the RJD as its ally".

Notably, Mandal had contested the 2020 assembly polls from Madhepura but lost to RJD veteran Chandrashekhar, the minister for education in the new government.

Anand also sought to underscore that before the exit of Mandal, JD(U) had removed two other spokespersons, Suheli Mehta and Ajay Alok, for their perceived proximity to disgraced former national president RCP Singh.

Mehta continues to be in the party, while Alok, incidentally seen on the same page as BJP on a number of issues, has been expelled.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)