BJP has not officially declared anyone as its prime ministerial candidate for the next Lok Sabha polls and JD(U) being a key NDA partner would officially be informed of any decision on the issue, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Monday refusing to be drawn into any controversy.

"It will be improper for JD(U) to react to any report ... JD(U) is an NDA ally and will be informed the moment such a decision is taken by the senior partner," Kumar, also key JD(U) leader, said on the sidelines of his weekly 'Janata Darbar'.

"JD(U) will react or make any comment only when a formal decision for projection of a prime ministerial candidate is taken by the BJP ... No official formal decision has been taken by the BJP on the issue," he said adding BJP had not even internally made such an announcement.

On Modi's fast, he said every individual, political leader or chief minister had the freedom to organise a personal or public programme of his choice in a state.

"It doesn't require unnecessary comment," he said refusing to be drawn into controversy over reports suggesting that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi might be a strong contender for the post.

JD(U) has an alliance with BJP in Bihar "But there is no alliance with BJP in the state you mentioned," he told reporters.

Kumar's remarks comes a day after JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari hit out at Modi saying a person who "failed to follow Rajdharma" with five crore people of a state won't be able to do "justice" with 125 crore people of the country.

"Modi has failed to discharge Rajdharma in Gujarat... when he can't do justice with five crore people of a state how will he be able to deliver justice to 125 crore of the country," Tiwari had stated.

Kumar said he had time and again made it clear that he was not in the race for prime ministership.

"I don't harbour any ambition of becoming prime minister ... I don't have any dream of becoming prime minister," he said.

"My sole ambition is dedicated for Bihar ... I have to respect people's mandate for Bihar... I am physically and mentally utilising my full capacity for Bihar as I know serving Bihar is a great service to the nation," Kumar added.

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Don't give Hindus poison of secularism: Thackeray tells Modi

Firing a salvo at Narendra Modi for trying to project a secular image of himself, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday said the Gujarat chief minister shot to power by the Hindu vote bank and he should not give them "poison of secularism" in his battle for "gaddi" in Delhi.

The Shiv Sena patriarch, BJP's oldest ally, also asked Modi not to forget that after Maharashtra, Gujarat was the laboratory of Hinduism and said whatever he was today, it was because of Hindu vote bank.

"Hindu ramsevaks were killed in Godhra riots (train burning) and that's why Hindus were inflammed. Do not kill them by giving them dose of the poison of secularism," Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

"Modi's battle may be for the 'gaddi' (throne) of Delhi. But it is impossible without 'sadbhavana' (goodwill) of Hindus. It was the saffron flag which helped propel Modi to leadership position. It was due to Hindu vote bank that Modi reached the place where he is today," he said.

"It cannot be forgotten that after Maharashtra, Gujarat is the laboratory of Hinduism," he added.

Modi, often dubbed as Hindutva's posterboy, has sought to present a secular image of himself during his 3-day fast with religious leaders from different communities, including Muslim clerics, thronging the venue.

Thackeray's remarks came on a day his estranged nephew and MNS chief Raj Thackeray met Modi.

The MNS leader later told reporters outside the venue of the fast that it would be good if Modi became prime minister.

Thackeray also criticised senior BJP leader from Maharashtra Eknath Khadse, for euologising Gujarat at the cost of Maharashtra. "Though he belongs to BJP, Khadse is Maharashtra's leader and we feel that no leader from the state should defame Maharashtra in other states," he said.

Khadse, leader of opposition in Maharashtra assembly, during his speech at the venue of Modi's fast, had said that "while there is light in Gujarat, there is darkness in Maharashtra.'

MNS would support Modi as the PM: Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday said here that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi could become a good prime minister, and MNS would be happy to support him.

"I have come to convey my good wishes to Modiji. I had called him after the supreme court's order (in Gulberg Society riot case). After the certificate from the supreme court, Modi does not need anybody else's certificate," Thackeray told reporters after meeting Modi.

"Modi could become a good prime minister and my party will support him. In fact, anybody who wants to work hard for the people of the country can become a good PM," he said, when asked if he considered Modi to be a prime minister material.

Modi's party, BJP, is in alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. MNS is considered to be Sena's rival in the state politics, as both eye the Marathi vote.

Raj said there was a need for 'Sadbhavna' (goodwill), but the felling had to be mutual. "Otherwise it is useless," he said .

On the Modi's fast itself, Raj said that it was different from other fasts, as there were no demands attached to it.

"One needs to understand the objective behind it first," Thackeray added.

He also said that the country was riddled with scams, and was in the desperate need of a good captain.

A few weeks ago, the MNS chief had toured Gujarat, to see the development in the state first-hand, and had praised Modi's leadership.

BJP leaders dub Gujarat Congress's fast as panic reaction

Although Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi chose not to comment on the fast launched by the state Congress leaders to counter his three-day Sadbhavna mission, his party members did not mince any words to trounce the act as "nonsensical" and dubbed it as a "panic reaction".

Senior BJP leader and Gujarat in-charge Balbir Punj said Gujarat Congress was against the people and Modi.

"The Congress fast is nonsensical. Shankarsinh Vaghela is trying to rehabilitate himself in the party under the pretence of this fast," he said.

Punj said that the huge sea of people, approximately three lakh people in two days, who came to wish Modi on his good will fast itself shows that they believe in the their chief minister.

BJP MP in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat, Smriti Irani was highly critical of Congress and termed their fast as ridiculous.

"I think Gujarat Congress has already conceded defeat for the assembly election next year. Their reaction to Modi's fast is nothing but its panic reaction before the 2014 general elections," she said.

"Gujarat Congress does not have the strength or sense, nor does it have the intentions for development of the state," Irani alleged. She said the BJP would welcome all the allegations and criticism from the Congress as it would help them perform better.

BJP MP Hema Malini also supported Modi's fast and described him as the image changer of Gujarat.

"I am happy to see support for the Sadbhavna Mission. This is a proof of Modi's increasing popularity. This cannot be achieved easily," Malini said.

"Modi has changed the image of Gujarat in the 10 years of his rule. Now every state needs a leader like him," she added.

Malini praised Modi for his inclusive development model by taking along every section of the society without discrimination of cast, religion or creed. She also said that actor-husband Dharmendra had conveyed his good wishes to Modi.

Besides, BJP leaders Ramdas Athawle of Republican Party of India (RPI) also attended the fast and extended his support for him.

Athawle said he has brought along with him the message of Sadbhavna from the dalit community of India. Athawle asked Modi to steer the chariot of unity between Hindus, Muslims and dalits.

"We do not need another Godhra or Ahmedabad or conflict between Indian and Pakistan. Modi has done a good job in Gujarat," Athawle added.