New Delhi:
Sonia Gandhi is travelling abroad for a medical check-up and her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who flew out with her on Sunday night, put out a tweet that had a message for - as described by him - "friends in the BJP social media troll army".
Sonia Gandhi, who remains the chairperson of the Congress-led UPA after handing charge of the party to her son in December, had a surgery in the US in 2011.
The sources said key decisions, including the allocation of ministries in Karnataka after a Congress-Janata Dal Secular government led by HD Kumaraswamy took over last week, have been put on hold.
The BJP's tweet, posted hours after Rahul Gandhi's, also referred to it.
Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up.
To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: don't get too worked up...I'll be back soon!
Women of Karnataka also await Cabinet formation so that the state Govt can start serving them. Can you ensure Karnataka gets a working Govt before you leave?
Everyone on social media hopes that you will keep us entertained from there too :-) https://t.co/doxO36Xva8
Before leaving, the Congress president reportedly met with party leaders to decide on the Karnataka ministries but the discussions were inconclusive, according to PTI. Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, however, denied any delay, asserting: "Rahul's absence will not delay it. He is available over phone 24x7.""
Rahul Gandhi's trip coincides with crucial by-polls that will test the opposition's unity against the BJP, especially in Uttar Pradesh. After voting today for by-polls in parliamentary and assembly seats across 10 states, the results will be declared on Thursday.