The Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar has withdrawn security cover given to Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Lalu travelled with his wife Rabri Devi, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, in a private car when he arrived in Patna on Friday night.

Official sources in the state home department confirmed that six Bihar government cars, including a bullet proof car used as Lalu's escort, had been withdrawn along with some security personnel provided to him as a former chief minister of the state.

"The state government has withdrawn some official cars and security personnel engaged in providing security to Lalu Prasad," a senior official told rediff.com in Patna on Saturday.

Last year the state government had refused to provide Z-plus security to Rabri Devi on the ground that it could not bear the expenses.

Lalu was provided security cover as a former chief minister. In early 2000, it was during RJD rule, that a law was enacted that entitled all former chief ministers to security cover by the state government for at least five years from the day they demitted office.