Rahul Gandhi was working in Bangkok's Buddhist ashram during 56-day sabbatical

New Delhi, l April 16: Ending his 56-day 'sabbatical', Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday finally returned to Delhi.

He returned to India on Thursday at 11.15 am on a Thai Airways plane from Bangkok.

According to ABP News, Rahul was in a Buddhist ashram near Bangkok, where he worked like an ordinary worker.

The report also said that during his two-month stay the Congress vice president followed all the ashram rules.

The 44-year-old leader's return has finally ended days of intense speculation over his return. His coming back is being celebrations by party workers who burst crackers outside his residence.

Wearing a dark shirt and seated in the back seat of his vehicle, he arrived escorted by his security personnel and drove straight into the house without interacting with the waiting mediapersons.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi reached the 12, Tughlaq Road residence of Rahul before 11am and was soon followed by daughter Priyanka.

Rahul had left quietly before the Budget session began on February 23.

The party had then said that he "requested Congress President Sonia Gandhi for some time to reflect on recent events and future course of the party".

Ever since the announcement of his temporary break from political life, there has been speculation that he was unhappy with not getting a free hand to run the party, a contention which the party has officially denied.

Rahul's leave had come amid talk of an AICC session, where he was expected to be elevated as Congress President.

During his absence, several party leaders including former chief ministers Amarinder Singh and Sheila Dikshit came out in the open pitching for Sonia Gandhi to continue as president and raised questions over his leadership.

OneIndia News