Launching the NDA’s poll campaign in Bihar, Narendra Modi said at an event in Patna that he will “go beyond” what he promised on allocation of funds for the state,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unofficially launched BJP's poll campaign in Bihar while inaugurating the IIT Patna with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. In what could be called a teaser to his announcements that may follow in consequent rallies, PM Modi said that he has a great development plan for Bihar in his head. He also said that he is all set to better the Rs 50,000 crore relief package that he had promised Bihar when he sought votes for BJP in the last general election.

Speculations are rife that the PM will announce a hefty relief package during a Muzaffarpur rally, later in the day.

After arriving in Patna, Prime Minister Modi shared the stage with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who questioned him recently on his promises made during last year’s Lok Sabha election. The two leaders came together at a function to launch multiple projects and two trains, agencies reported.

“Before the Lok Sabha polls, I promised Rs 50,000 crore for Bihar (if elected)...I will fulfil my promise and announce the package at the right time. And I will go beyond what was promised,” Hindustan Times quoted Modi as saying.

Modi also rued the projects which was launched a long time ago during the previous NDA regime, but weren't pursued after the Congress came to power.

Before Modi took to the stage, Nitish Kumar spoke about the development plan he has for Bihar and the relief package he seeks from the Centre. He added that with development, Biharis will not have to migrate to other states to seek jobs and will find employment at home.

While referring to the same, PM Modi said that CM Nitish Kumar was right in seeking his help for the development in Bihar.

In a game of political one-upmanship, which Modi is spectacular at, the Prime Minister said that he remembers the promise he had made to Bihar while campaigning during the general elections. He added that he knows that the people of Bihar has placed their faith in him, cleverly undercutting Kumar's claims of playing Bihar's knight-in-shining-armour.

He then added, "After I became the PM, I thought at length about the condition of Bihar. I realised that I had promised Rs 50,000 crore, but that's not going to be enough. So, I will give Bihar much more, but at the right time." With that one statement, he effectively shut up the demands made by Kumar and company, at least for a while.

Meanwhile, Zee News reported that BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain responded to Nitish Kumar’s questioning of Modi over his poll promises, saying in posts on Twitter that the people of Bihar want answers for the “jungle raj-1” of Lalu Prasad Yadav and “jungle raj-2” of Nitish Kumar.

At the event in Patna, Modi flagged off a railway line and a train from Patna to Mumbai, as also an incubation centre for medical electronics.

However, reacting to his announcements, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said that he did not announce any new schemes and merely repackaged old ones, Zee news reported.

At the event, Nitish Kumar said, “We're grateful that after 14 months Modiji finds time to visit Bihar. As we get ready to hear more promises what about his old ones?” Nitish also reminded about the issue of granting special status to Bihar, and said that the demand is still pending.