“I have apprised the RJD leadership of my decision of resigning from the primary membership of the party. I don’t want to remain associated with a party which has deviated from the principles of social justice. Lalu had once championed the cause after former CM late Karpoori Thakur,” Ram Nihora Yadav, who was RJD’s state general secretary and spokesman, told PTI.

Prasad’s blue-eyed boy and RJD national general secretary Shyam Razak had on Saturday resigned from the party and the Bihar Assembly citing similar reasons.

Claiming that the RJD had been reduced to “a party of sycophants,” Yadav said he was feeling suffocated in the party under Lalu’s leadership. On whether he would switch over to the JD(U), Yadav said he is yet to take a decision.

Razak, however, is likely to join the ruling JD(U) soon in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, sources said. Lashing out at Prasad for RJD’s humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, after it won only four seats this year against last time’s tally of 22, Razak predicted that the party would be “finished soon”.

The RJD, in its turn, has termed Razak an “opportunist” and said that he had got much more from the party than what he deserved. “Razak got more than what he deserved to get in the party...The other party leaders were feeling humiliated due to Razak getting prominence in the party,” party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed Khan said on Sunday.

Stating that resignation by its leaders such as Bhim Singh, an MLC, Razak and Ram Nihora Yadav would not affect it, Khan said desertions had become customary during and after polls. Khan, however, denied that desertions in the party had anything to do with its recent poll performance.

Meanwhile, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday said he would welcome those who quit the RJD “with open arms” if they wished to switch over to ruling JD(U). “We will receive all those who resigned from RJD or are willing to follow suit even from other Opposition parties with open arms,” Kumar said. “We will try to ensure full respect and protect their prestige in our party,” he added. On whether Razak or Yadav contacted him expressing willingness to join JD(U), Kumar said, “We will let you know this at an appropriate time.”