Ever since the announcement of the Padma Awards, a divide is being seen in the Congress, especially after its veteran leader Gulam Nabi Azad was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Centre for his contribution in public Affairs. Azad is yet to give a statement or react to the announcement of the award by the Narendra Modi government.

While a tweet from a close aide of the Gandhi's and the Chief Whip of the party in Rajya Sabha, Jairam Ramesh took a dig on Azad for accepting the award, Congress stalwarts from the G-23 group have congratulated him for the "well-deserved" award. Ramesh, in his tweet, appreciated Bhudhdeb Bhattacharya for not accepting the Padma Bhushan Award, and had said, "Right thing to do. He wants to be Azad not Ghulam".