Haven't ruled out anyone from PM Race: Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj

NEW DELHI: Even as the 'Modi for PM' clamour from the BJP cadres seemed to be gaining momentum, leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj said the party had not ruled out any leader, including LK Advani, from the prime ministerial race.

"We have not ruled out anyone. A right decision in this regard will be taken at right time," she said on Monday in an interview to a private news channel when asked about the possibility of projecting Advani.

To a query if party president Rajnath Singh's describing Modi as the most popular leader meant other leaders were not popular, she said "this is his perception. But this does not mean other leaders are not popular." Asked if Modi's induction in party's parliamentary Board was any indication of his influence, she said Singh has clarified that there was only one vacancy and Modi being senior most CM was included. "There is no other reason," she said.

Swaraj dismissed speculation over the next election being Modi versus Rahul Gandhi, neither Congress nor BJP has declared PM candidates. "We have not projected Modi and Congress has not projected Rahul. So, This is not Modi vs Rahul. This will be NDA vs UPA."

Dubbing the rift between the BJP and JD-U over the PM candidate issue as a creation of the media, she said "first we will decide if we want to project a PM candidate or not. If we decide to project someone then we will decide who it will be. Since we have an alliance BJP alone will not decide NDA will sit together and decide. Media is in a hurry we are not in a hurry. We will take right decision at right time. If Nitish wants to say something he can say when he is consulted in the process."