The 'tantra-mantra' jibe directed at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar came into focus again as prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the assembly poll was crucial this time as it would decide the future of Bihar's development.

"This is not just an election of which political party must come to power. It is an election for the future of Bihar's development," he said while addressing a rally here a day before the third phase of the Bihar Assembly polls.

"You need to decide whether you want' tatra-mantra' (magic spells) to pave the path to development or 'loktantra' (democracy)," he asked.

“Madam Sonia ji, the Congress ruled Bihar for 35 years and the party must tell people what development work was done during that period,” Modi exhorted.

While mocking the Nitish-Lalu combine, Modi said that Nitish has promised to give out computers, but how will they run if there is no electricity, adding, “the Lalu virus is already there in those computer.”

Modi also reached out to the Dalit community by calling Valmiki Jayanti a fortunate day for addressing a rally. "Today is a fortunate day. I wish Lord Valmiki blesses me to serve each person and mother Sita protects us and blesses us so that I never let anything come in the way of my service to you," he said.

Highlighting his commitment towards serving the people of the nation, Modi said that he has not taken even one day off in his service of 16 months. "I have not come to power to enjoy the power of my position. It has been nearly 16 months, and I have not taken even a single day off," he added.

A day ago, addressing a rally in Buxar district, Modi said the grand old party is contesting 40 Assembly seats, but it is not visible anywhere. “There will be no contest in these 40 seats and all will be won by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).”

Lalu and virus
Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad on Tuesday dubbed Modi a ‘communal virus’ after the latter called him a ‘virus’ in Nitish Kumar’s computer.

“Modi is himself a virulent virus, spreading communalism,” Prasad said ahead of the third phase of polling on Wednesday.

The RJD chief also slammed Modi for alleging that the secular alliance between the Janata Dal(United)-RJD-Congress was plotting to take away 5% reservation of SC/ST and OBCs to give a particular community a share in the quota. He said it was a ploy to divert public attention from the BJP-RSS move to scrap reservation in jobs.

“It is an attempt to arouse communal passion in the society. Can anyone alter the constitutional provisions of reservation?” the RJD chief asked.

The PM’s “Lalu-bashing spree” and 17 public rallies ahead of three rounds of polls were signs of desperation in the saffron camp, Prasad added.

He also objected to the “slur” on his daughter Misa Bharti and son Tejashwi Yadav, who is contesting his maiden assembly election.

At a rally in Patna on Sunday, the PM took a dig at Prasad’s bid to promote his family rule by first trying to “set bechari beti (helpless daughter)” in the Lok Sabha polls and now the “yuvraj” with a poor academic background in the assembly elections.

“What kind of a language is PM using? Modi has downgraded the dignity of the PM by making such frivolous statements,” Prasad said, adding the “below the belt” attack on Misa was akin to insulting women’s empowerment.

Misa too reacted strongly to Modi’s remarks, saying using cheap language as “set karna” for someone’s daughter was not expected of a Prime Minister. In a Facebook post, she also referred to Modi having left his wife at a young age besides mentioning the snooping of a woman by agencies in Gujarat. “A daughter is the prestige of a house but some people put them under surveillance,” she said, insisting she was not a ‘bechari’.