New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad attempted to put an end to speculation about his future political aspirations on Wednesday, a day after receiving the Padma Bhushan.
According to reports, he updated his Twitter profile, but Azad, who has been critical of his party's leadership and is the only Congress lawmaker to be honoured this year under the Modi regime, denied it, PTI reported.
Taking to Twitter, Azad said, "Some mischievous propaganda being circulated by some people to create confusion. Nothing has been removed or added to my Twitter profile. The profile is as it was earlier."
Nothing is stated on Azad's Twitter page, and there is no mention of the Congress party.
Leaders' Twitter profiles are closely monitored in the era of social media, as many of them undergo changes before publicly switching parties.
Azad, the former Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition, is a major member of the G23 dissident leaders who has been pushing an organisational reform in the Congress and has received criticism from inside the party.
After the Padma awards were announced on Tuesday evening, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated of CPI (M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's unwillingness to accept the honour, "He wants to be Azad, not Ghulam."
However, senior Congress politician Kapil Sibal, who is also a member of the G23, stated on Wednesday that it is paradoxical that Congress does not require Azad's services while the nation recognises his contributions to public life.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had famously teared up as he praised Azad during his parting speech to the Congress leader in the Upper House, a gesture reciprocated by the latter.
Azad recently travelled extensively in Jammu and Kashmir areas and received a positive reception. According to reports, he plans to return to Jammu & Kashmir in the coming days.
(With PTI Inputs)