Modi kickstarts NDA campaign in Bihar, attacks Nitish

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad as he formally kickstarted the NDA's campaign for the crucial Bihar assembly polls, appealing to people not to bring back "jungle raj".

Hours after he praised Nitish Kumar for his various requests and suggestions related to the development of Bihar, Modi did a u-turn, hitting out at the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader for the state's backwardness and his "betrayals".

"I was not only back-stabbed by him, people of Bihar were also back-stabbed by him," he said at a political rally at Chakkar Maidan here, referring to Nitish Kumar's decision to leave the National Democratic Alliance in protest after Modi was selected as its prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 2014 general elections.

Targeting both Nitish Kumar and his ally, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad for Bihar's backwardness, he said Nitish Kumar has strangulated the state's development by ending an alliance with the BJP - against the people's verdict - and joining hands with the RJD to ensure the return of "jungle raj".

Terming RJD as "Rozana Jungleraj Ka Darr", he asserted that his party would not allow the return of "jungle raj" in Bihar again. "This election is to get rid of RJD."

"Like the Lok Sabha polls, give us a two-third majority in the upcoming state assembly polls for development of Bihar. I promise you that I will fulfil the dreams of people in next 60 months if BJP is voted to power in Bihar," Modi said.

He also promised to provide round-the-clock electricity to the people.

Modi also said that the upcoming Bihar polls were not just to form the next government but to "change the fortune of youths by providing them jobs" and the fate of farmers and women by providing them safety and security.

He assured a special package of more than Rs.50,000 crore to Bihar for its development.

The rally was attended by all top BJP leaders from Bihar including half a dozen union ministers and heads of allies - Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party chief Upender Kushwaha. BJP's new ally, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, also attended and shared the stage with Modi.