Why is Rahul Gandhi practicing 'leadership from shadows', BJP asks Congress

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday said that the Congress party must decide on a leadership model to follow, holding the grand old party answerable after posters announcing a reward for the 'missing' party vice-president Rahul Gandhi emerged in his constituency Amethi.

"It is for the Congress party to decide what leadership model they want to follow. Whether he should be present or absent, whether the people in his constituency search for him and he is not available, whether he participates in parliament and he is not available, whether it is leadership from the shadows rather than leading from the front: it is their model, and it is best that the Congress answers to this," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Congress accused the BJP of spreading the 'defamatory' posters.

Earlier, posters with Rahul Gandhi's photo emerged in Amethi, announcing a reward for their 'missing' MP. Similar posters were also seen in Bulandshahr.

Following the Congress party's dismal showing in the Delhi assembly elections in February, Rahul Gandhi had taken a 'leave of absence' from active politics to 'reflect on recent events' and the 'future course' of the party.

Later, the Congress announced that he had extended his leave.