I am an optimist: Modi

Calling himself a thorough optimist, Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Sunday said the word "disappointment" is not in his dictionary.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the foundation day celebrations of yoga guru Ramdev's Bharat Swabhiman Trust in New Delhi's Talkatora Stadium.

"The word disappointment is not there in my dictionary. I have seen my mother work in homes to bring us up. I never saw her being pessimistic," he said.

"When senseless allegations are levelled against me, I feel people are so great to have lifted a tea seller so high," said Modi.

Taking a jibe at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi without naming him, Modi said: "A person who has lived in such acute poverty does not need to undertake tours to understand people's pain."

He also said the 2014 Lok Sabha polls will be a movement in itself.

"This will be the first election since Independence which will destroy all traditions. Usually polls are fought by political parties and candidates. This is the first time elections are becoming a people's movement in itself and political parties are being forced to fight it on the agenda of development," he said.