India, Sept. 15 -- After at least four flip-flops in about 10 years, and looking to stay chief minister of Bihar after the election this year too, Nitish Kumar on Monday again assured PM Narendra Modi of loyalty, saying the JDU-BJP alliance will stay in place.

Using a light-hearted tone, Nitish said he went to the "other side" only "upon prodding of some of my own party colleagues, one of whom is sitting here", pointing towards union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', whom he replaced as JDU's national president about two years ago.

This evoked a smile and applause from PM Modi, at a rally in Purnea.

Nitish said he regretted his alliances with the RJD-Congress combine, whom he accused of "indulging in mischief when we shared power"....