Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that he did not think National Democratic Alliance leader George Fernandes [Images] will leave the Janata Dal-United.

Nitish's comments come after a reported statement from Fernandes about leaving the party.

"I do not believe George saheb will think in terms of leaving the party and joining hands with Mulayam Singh Yadav," Kumar said.

Asked if he would be pained if Fernandes left the party and joined hands with the Samajwadi Party chief as reported by the media, Kumar tersely replied, "Pain is to be felt and it can not be expressed by making statements. George saheb is our respectable leader and I respect him from the core of my heart."

Nitish also denied that Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesman Shivanand Tiwari would join the JD-U.

Tiwari had recently accused RJD chief and Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav of nepotism and asked him to get rid of his two brothers-in-laws, Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav (both MPs).

The spokesman had also praised the Bihar chief minister for promoting social justice by ensuring 20 per cent reservation for the extremely backward castes and 50 per cent reservation to women in the three-tier panchayati raj system.

Nitish said he came to know about the developments through media reports and added, "Whatever happens, it will be for good".