Patna/IBNS: Veteran Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi has resigned as the party's spokesperson. 

Following his resignation, JDU supremo and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appointed Rajiv Ranjan Prasad in the position.

While the party has said Tyagi's decision was based on "personal reasons", the development is being seen as a JDU's damage control after the veteran leader's statements on key issues which did not go down well with the BJP leadership.

"The National President of Janata Dal (United), Shri Nitish Kumar (Chief Minister, Bihar) has appointed Shri Rajiv Ranjan Prasad as the National Spokesperson. Shri K.C. Tyagi, who is in the party on the post of spokesperson, has resigned from the post of party spokesperson due to personal reason," the JDU has said in a statement.

In the letter, shared by ANI, Tyagi said he had requested to be relieved of organisational responsibility earlier as well.

"You must have noticed that I have kept myself from TV debates for the past few months. I am not able to do justice to the post as spokesperson due to other work. Please relieve me from this responsibility. I will be available to publicise about you and Bihar government's achievements," he wrote.

Nitish Kumar's JDU is among the key allies that helped the Narendra Modi government cross the majority mark in this general election earlier this year.

According to reports, the BJP has been asking allies to maintain coordination in the ruling NDA bloc.

Recently, Tyagi put out a statement targeting Israel over its against Gaza that was not well received by the BJP. "We, the undersigned Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, unequivocally condemn the ongoing Zionist aggression and the heinous genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel. This brutal assault is not only an affront to humanity but also a gross violation of international law and the principles of justice and peace," the statement said.

"As a nation that has always championed the cause of justice and human rights, India can not be complicit in this genocide," it added.