One of the posters in Bundelkhand promises Rs 10,000 as a reward for any information that could help locate the missing parliamentarian.
New Delhi: It's a case of Gone, Boy in the Indian National Congress. Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who was formally declared on a leave of absence by his party since Feb 16, remains AWOL. With the Congress having twice announced extensions for his time off, it's virtually impossible for political opponents to eschew potshots.
So across Uttar Pradesh, including in Mr Gandhi's constituency of Amethi, posters have sprung up that declare the 44-year-old missing. One, in Bundelkhand, promises Rs 10,000 as a reward for any information that could help locate the missing parliamentarian.
Forced onto the defensive, the Congress which has not commented on whether Mr Gandhi is abroad, now refuses to indicate an ETA for its leader. ''He will be back in the proximate future. There is no need to keep repeating this question," snapped spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Similar posters of Rahul Gandhi were put up across Uttar Pradesh.
Many within the Congress wouldn't mind knowing the answer themselves. Highly-placed sources told NDTV that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session, where Mr Gandhi is expected to be promoted to President -a post occupied currently by his mother, Sonia - is likely to be delayed by a month to May. The AICC consists of hundreds/thousands of party members from different states and meets annually.
''Mrs Gandhi has made it very clear that she has to pass on this role, so it is inevitable,'' said a senior leader, confirming that while the timing of the gathering may have changed, its agenda hasn't. "He will be back before Parliament starts again.''
While Mr Gandhi's party has said he is using his down time to "contemplate and introspect," his mother, Sonia, has exhibited new vigour in the last 10 days, making a rare if brief speech in Parliament, leading a protest against the government's s planned land reforms, and playing a key role in mobilizing other opposition parties.
That spurt of activity should not be interpreted as a declaration of intent to remain party chief, said sources.
"Please do not confuse her activity with Rahul's absence,'' said a senior Congressman who did not wish to be named, "it is not linked."
Party sources say that Mrs Gandhi may continue to be the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party even after giving up the President's post after 17 years. But those dynamics come later. For now, the party waits for Mr Gandhi to reappear.