Rahul Gandhi Extends His Sabbatical. Again.

Rahul Gandhi has extended his sabbatical. Yet again. The Congress vice president will now return only by the end of March, sources said today.

Mr Gandhi was to have returned to Delhi by Tuesday, March 10, but Congress sources said then that he had extended his "leave of absence" till the end of this week.   

The new extension means that Mr Gandhi will not be in Delhi to lead the Congress when opposition lawmakers march from Parliament to the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday next in protest against the government's land reforms, seen as an issue close to Mr Gandhi.

The 44-year-old Congress leader left town just as the crucial Budget Session of Parliament began. If he requests no further extensions, he will be back only after the first part of the session has ended and Parliament breaks for a recess.

He was missing when the Lok Sabha discussed the land acquisition bill this week. The Congress has said Mr Gandhi is "abroad for introspection and soul searching before starting a new journey in his life." Party leaders emphasise that does not mean he is quitting politics.

If he does return by the end of March, Mr Gandhi would have been missing from Delhi for over 30 days.

While updates on his date of return have been shared regularly, the Congress or its leaders have not said where he is.  

On Twitter, speculation on Mr Gandhi's whereabouts has made him trend several times.