Ex-Prez Pranab Mukherjee joins Twitter as @CitiznMukherjee
Former President Pranab Mukherjee made a personal Twitter account by the handle '@CitiznMukherjee'. He earlier used to tweet from the '@rashtrapatibhvn' account, which now represents President Ram Nath Kovind. Further, all tweets made by Mukherjee as President have been archived at '@POI13'. Interestingly, it was Mukherjee who had started the Indian President's official Twitter handle.
As Pranab Mukherjee left the palatial Rashtrapati Bhavan to make way for India's 14th President Ram Nath Kovind, who was sworn-in today, to his new residence at 10 Rajaji Marg, a change of guard was also reflected on Twitter.As part of a digital transition, the Twitter handle of @rashtrapatibhvn now represents Ram Nath Kovind.#PresidentKovind at work pic.twitter.com/0QK5IE8Q5zAll tweets made under the past president Pranab Mukherjee have now been archived under a new Twitter handle @POI13.Pranab Mukherjee will however continue to tweet under a new handle @CitiznMukherjee. This will act as a personal account of Pranab Mukherjee.At 10 Rajaji Marg as President Kovind saw me off.Thank you all for your goodwishes.#CitizenMukherjeepic.twitter.com/IFq74umPjuHis new Twitter handle reminds what Mukherjee had said yesterday about returning from the Rashtrapati Bhavan as a citizen after spending five years as India's first citizen."When I speak to you tomorrow, it will not be as the President but as a citizen - a pilgrim like all of you in India's onward march towards glory," Mukherjee had said in his last address to the nation as President."What's happening in India and around the world, happens on Twitter. Today, we are paving the way for the digital transition of the President of India's official account," said Mahima Kaul, head of public policy, Twitter India."The new president, Ram Nath Kovind, will now use the official President of India account @RashtrapatiBhvn," Kaul said.A smooth transition between administrations was one of Mukherjee's top priorities as president, she said, adding that digital was a key pillar in today's Internet age.President Pranab Mukherjee was India's first President to have started tweeting.He created hashtag #PresidentMukherjee on Twitter to engage with citizens through his term.President Mukherjee sent his first Tweet as the President of India on 1 July 2014. During his term, President Mukherjee's most retweeted tweet was about demonetisation last year.