Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a personal visit abroad and will remain absent for the 136th foundation day of the party. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala confirmed that the MP of Wayanad will be away for the next few days.

"Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has left for abroad for a short personal visit and will be away for a few days," Surjewala was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. According to the agency report, he flew to Milan on Sunday.

Rahul Gandhi on Thursday had led an allocation to meet President Ram Nath Kovind against the farm laws and gave a memorandum to him requesting that he should ask the government to reconsider the demands of the farmers.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena’s ally in Maharashtra criticised Congress via its editorial in Saamana and stated that Congress is unable of leading the grand alliance against the Central government. Gandhi family's trips abroad have often been a subject of criticism by number of political opponents which have often targeted Sonia Gandhi.

CONGRESS FOUNDATION DAY

On December 28, 1885 the Indian National Congress was formed. Its first session was held in then Bombay (now Mumbai) between December 28 to December 31. Umesh Chandra Banerjee was the first President of Congress.

The anniversary comes at a time when the party is battling crunches both inside and outside. The electoral crisis has been serious by a rebellion inside as several veteran leaders from the party, including a few former CMs few months back wrote a letter demanding organisational reforms in the party.

(With inputs from IANS)