Congress sources gave the fresh schedule for Rahul's return after the wait on Monday proved futile. It was earlier indicated that the party vice-president would be back from his sabbatical on April 12-13.

In the process, Rahul skipped the meeting of the high-powered panel on Ambedkar celebrations which he co-chairs, leaving the party to face another burst of persistent queries about his return and if he would really be present at the farmers' rally on April 19 as earlier announced.

Sources claimed the likelihood of Rahul coming back after two days is strong. If it happens, it would have far overshot the two-week leave announced by AICC on February 20. The leave, taken on the day the Budget session of Parliament started, had baffled everyone. Though exasperated spokespersons have many a times rebuffed queries about Rahul's location and return, Monday saw seniors AK Antony and Mallikarjuna Kharge at the receiving end of journalists' curiosity.

"How many times it has to be clarified," wondered Antony, when the special press briefing about decisions on Ambedkar celebrations found the main subject overshadowed by queries on Rahul. "It has been explained many times," he said on being asked if the party agreed with former CM Amarinder Singh, who wants Sonia Gandhi to stay on as party president, or Punjab unit chief Partap Singh Bajwa who wants Rahul's elevation without any further delay. Antony, however, added with certainty that "Rahul would attend the farmers' rally on April 19."

With nobody able to make sense of the long leave alien to the political class, there are many claims about the reasons for Rahul's abrupt disappearance. A section says he is sulking for being blamed for Congress failures he had no role in, while another argues he just wanted to be away from routine to think through the future strategy for the party he is soon going to take charge of.

(timesofindia.indiatimes.com)