After saffron headgear, Azad’s praise for PM

Veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has finally revealed his worst kept secret – that he is an ardent admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Giving himself a backhanded compliment that he is as grounded as PM Modi, Azad said in a video shared by ANI, "I like a lot of things about many leaders. I'm from a village and am proud of that... I'm also proud that leaders like our Prime Minister, who used to sell tea, also come from villages. We may be rivals but I appreciate he doesn't hide his true self."

Taking no names but possibly referring to the top Congress echelons, which is not too enamoured of him of late, Azad also warned political leaders against "living in a bubble". "Those who do (hide their true nature)... are living in a bubble. A man should be proud (of who he is and where he comes from). I have travelled the world and stayed in 5-star hotels, in 7-star hotels... but when I sit with people from my village... there is a fragrance that makes it special," he added.

Political observers see in the lavish praise of the PM a quid pro quo for the time the latter broke down as he praised his "true friend" Azad in Parliament, and said: "I (will) not let you retire, I will continue taking

your advice. My doors are always open for you."

PM Modi’s words that he won’t let Azad retire and that the doors were always open for the latter has a prophetic ring to it. The impression that Azad may have an ace up his sleeve gets reinforced by the fact that he shared a stage on Saturday with other members the Congress party who have questioned the Gandhis' leadership style. These leaders were the ones who wrote last year to interim chief Sonia Gandhi to ask for "full time" and "visible" leadership. Incidentally, Azad was seen in a saffron turban at the public rally on Saturday.