Rahul Gandhi goes on sabbatical, skips Parliament session

With his surprise sabbatical "for a few weeks" sparking speculations, sources within Congress on Monday said Rahul Gandhi was upset over his views and strategies being rejected by party veterans. Rahul's absence is a message to old guard to either fall in line or leave, sources said.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, however, rejected the speculations and said he "condemns and denies such unjustifiable" questions. He said Rahul Gandhi requested Congress President Sonia Gandhi that he needs a few weeks time to "reflect both on recent events related to the party and its future course" as he believes that this "introspection" is vital for the party.

"He (Rahul) believes that the AICC session (expected in the first week of April) is vital and he would like to give specific inputs on this. He wants to do introspection with what happened with regard to Congress in recent times and earlier," Singhvi said.

The Congress spokesperson said that after applying his mind on these issues, Rahul will "return to resume his active participation in political affairs of Congress".Opposition parties were quick to hit out at the Congress and termed it a reason behind the dismal show in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "This only shows the seriousness of the Congress party. They are holidaying."

Backing Rudy MP Anurag Thakur said, "It is for him to decide what the priority is. They have been missing and that is why people have thrown them out."

Even in the past, Rahul has a record of low attendance in the Lok Sabha and was absent during many crucial discussions and debate in the last few sessions.