New Delhi, Feb 23 Ahead of the budget session, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took “leave of absence” to reflect on a series of electoral defeats and deliberate on the future course of the 125-year-old party, top sources said here Monday.

“Rahul Gandhi has been granted leave of absence for ‘aap chintan, aap manthan’ (introspection),” a party leader told IANS.

“He will not be in Delhi until the end of this week to attend the presentation of the budget,” he said.

However, the entire duration of absence is not known, another source added.

The budget session began Monday, with the address of President Pranab Mukherjee to the joint session of parliament.