New Delhi: "I am in a silent mode". This was the cryptic response of senior Congress leader Arjun Singh on Monday as he was brought out on a wheel chair after a meeting of party leaders with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on suggestions for the union budget.
However, Singh's remarks were significant, as they have come against the backdrop of his exclusion from the union Cabinet.
The name of Singh, who was the HRD Minister in the previous government, is doing the round as being among probables for gubernatorial assignment.
The septugenarian leader has donned several political hats in the past, including those of Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Governor of Punjab, Vice President of the party and Union minister.
Singh declined to reply to a question if he was unhappy at being kept out of the Union Cabinet.
The veteran leader, who is a Rajya Sabha member at present, also kept quiet when asked whether he would be interested in a job in the organisation or a gubernatorial assignment, as is being speculated.
Apart from Singh, Sis Ram Ola, H R Bhardwaj and Saifuddin Soz were dropped from the new Manmohan Singh Cabinet in May.