The Newshour Debate:

In a surprise move, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has gone on a sabbatical "for a few weeks" following the party's whitewash in the Delhi Assembly elections on top of a string of electoral losses, setting tongues wagging about his future plans. Rahul has been "granted leave of absence for a few weeks after which he will return and resume his active participation in the affairs of the Congress party", party sources said. They said he has "requested Congress President Sonia Gandhi for some time to reflect on recent events and future course of the party". There was no official word on what Rahul plans to do or where he was at the moment as speculation raged whether it could be a precursor to his keeping away from politics.

A member of the Lok Sabha from Amethi, he gave a miss to Parliament which commenced its budget session today with the President's address to a joint sitting of both the Houses. Asked about the sabbatical given to Rahul, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said he has been "given a few weeks. He needs some time." "Well, the reason is what you have been told," she said in reply to a question whether he has been given time to reflect on recent events and future course of the party as has been told to the media. While the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena took jibes at Rahul and Congress revelling in the party's discomfiture, Congress leaders expressed the hope that a break would do him good and that they would continue to look for guidance from Sonia and Rahul.

In a debate moderated by TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, panelists -- Brijesh Kalappa, Spokesperson, Congress; Dr Sambit Patra, National Spokesperson, BJP; Rasheed Kidwai, Senior Journalist; Jayanto Ghoshal, Editor, Ananda Bazar Patrika, Delhi; Sunil Alagh, Chairman, S K A Advisors; R Rajagopalan, Senior Journalist and Shahid Siddiqui, Chief Editor, Nai Duniya -- discuss the issue -- Rahul sulking or quitting?

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