Modi: Nitish's PM dream led to severing of ties

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's ambition to become prime minister led to the break-up of the alliance between the Janata Dal-United and the Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said Monday.

Addressing a rally here, Modi said that at that time, the BJP was not sure why the JD-U broke the partnership.

"Now we know why he (Nitish Kumar) broke the alliance. The dream of becoming prime minister was not letting him sleep," the Gujarat chief minister said.

He also took a dig at the Third Front, saying it has a dozen prime ministerial aspirants.

"Look at the Third Front... almost all parties have saved the Congress and supported it at some point of time. There are either former prime ministers, or prime minister aspirants," he said.

"There are more than a dozen people who have got clothes stitched to become the prime minister."

Modi said the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, if elected to power, will develop the country's eastern region, including Bihar, by providing all necessary help.

"Our government's priority will be to develop the eastern part of the country, including Bihar, Assam, Odisha and West Bengal at par with the western part," he said.

"We will see whether it is the special package or special category status which will help Bihar to develop. It will be our immediate concern," Modi added.

The BJP leader also said the Congress-led government was on its death bed with oxygen support to keep it alive for a few days.