Rahul Gandhi again goes on leave?

New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who received huge flak earlier this year for his nearly two-month long 'sabbatical', has once again taken a leave and left for Britain, reports said on Tuesday.

According to some media reports today evening, Rahul Gandhi left for London last night.

Meanwhile, party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala confirmed that the Congress vice president has gone abroad on a short personal visit, but didn't specify the place.

"Rahulji is travelling abroad on a short personal visit and will return shortly. We reject all rumours stating otherwise. He will continue to lead the party's Bihar campaign as also in the rest of the country," Surjewala said.

He was asked at the AICC briefing whether Rahul has left for London today and whether it meant that he had gone on another sabbatical.

Earlier, the 44-year-old Congress vice president was on a 'leave of absence' since the Budget Session of Parliament that began on February 23. He returned on April 17.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had grabbed the opportunity to attack the Gandhi scion and ridiculed him by reminding him that there is no item numbers in politics.

The party had then contended Rahul's absence premised on his need to chart out party's future course in "isolation", adding that Gandhi had requested for "some time to reflect on recent events and the future course for the party".

The Congress was reduced to 44 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections and has since finished third or fourth in successive Assembly polls. In Delhi assembly elections earlier this year, the party failed to open its account.