Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was missing in action even as Congress leaders and ministers attended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's farewell dinner hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The function at 10, Janpath was held as a mark of gratitude by the party whose coalition government the 81-year-old Singh has led for 10 years.
PM Manmohan Singh and Congress VP Rahul Gandhi
Rahul's absence at the party gave rise to much speculation as to why he wasn't present.
As the news came in, ABP News tweeted saying Rahul may not be in the country.
PMO sources late tonight said that Rahul met the Prime Minister on Saturday to say that he won't be in town and had already thanked him.
There was speculation that Rahul was probably travelling abroad and would be back before counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls begins on Friday.
When asked why Rahul had not attended the dinner, Union Minister Kamal Nath said that he was not aware of the reason. "I do not know why he did not attend," he said.
Another minister RPN Singh when asked about questions raised over Rahul's absence said, "It is unfortunate that politics is being done over it."
A memento was presented to Singh with signatures of top Congress leaders and Union ministers. HRD minister Pallam Raju read out the inscription on the memento which praised the prime minister.
Both Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur were presented with bouquets and party leaders were seen scrambling for a photograph with the couple and Sonia Gandhi.
The economist-turned-politician had announced his retirement some time back saying he would not run for a third term.
The party had only yesterday hailed Singh's able stewardship of the government, underlining how he had led the country through difficult times.
"Singh's experienced and seasoned stewardship, his personal integrity and ability to lead the country through difficult times is noteworthy and India is proud to have earned so many laurels and respect during the 10 years," AICC had said yesterday.
Party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, have often expressed their appreciation of Singh during the UPA-I and UPA-II governments for having carved out a trajectory of clear inclusive growth, stability and social harmony in the country.
Singh will demit his office on 17 May, a day after the Lok Sabha election results are announced.
He had assumed office on 22 May, 2009, for his second straight term as prime minister and already holds the distinction of being the third-longest serving head of the Union government after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
A former governor of the RBI, Singh — who is often described as the architect of India's economic reforms — entered politics in 1991 when he was made Finance Minister by the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao.
With PTI inputs
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