New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has decided that it is better to ignore its senior leader George Fernandes' diatribe against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"Why do you want me to be a dictator?" party president Sharad Yadav told reporters in a lighter vein here Thursday, when asked about the veteran leader's comments, calling Nitish Kumar a dictator.

"I can only say that it is not fair on his part to talk like this. He is very much in the party (JD-U). He was with us in this long struggle (against Railway Minister Lalu Prasad).

"This is a democratic party and everyone has a right to express his views. There is no restriction on anyone meeting the chief minister," a visibly embarrassed Yadav said.

Visiting his constituency Muzaffarpur Wednesday, Fernandes had told reporters: "Nitish Kumar is a dictator. He was a dictator and he will be a dictator."

Asked about the chief minister's style of functioning, he had said he would not say much about the government headed by Nitish Kumar. "I am waiting for the right time to open my mouth about the functioning and performance of this government."

Fernandes, still the convenor of the country's main opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), appears to be getting ready to part company with JD-U and rejoin his Samata Paty that has been revived, say party insiders.