Sushma Swaraj denies tension between Narendra Modi and herself

PATNA - Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj on Friday categorically denied there was any tension between her and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Talking to media persons in Patna, Swaraj maintained ‘all was well’ in her relations with Modi, and that all reports suggesting the contrary were fabricated and baseless.

“Neither there is any tension between Narendra Modi and I, nor has the BJP chief Nitin Gadkari discussed the issue with me. All the reports circulating in the media are baseless and false. Somebody is planting fabricated stories in the media,” said Sushma.

Swaraj’s clarification comes at a time when the polls in Bihar are underway.

Swaraj expressed confidence that the people would choose development over caste politics and backwardness in the ongoing elections.

“Since decades, the elections in Bihar were conducted on the basis of caste. There was no development. The votes of people used to be garnered by stoking caste fires. Due to the efforts of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), development has emerged as the most important issue, and we are contesting the elections on this plank,” said Sushma.

“People are hungry for progress and are no longer enticed or lured by caste politics. The elections are taking place on the plank of progress, people’s aspirations and self-respect,” she added.

The six-phase polling for the 243 assembly seats of the state began on October 21 and it is scheduled to end on November 20, while counting of votes will take place on November 24. By Aditya Kumar Jha (ANI)