Lieutenants of Rahul Gandhi at the 2, Tughlaq Lane office are justifiably exasperated.

Rahul's men are confused and upset about how they will continue to convince people especially family loyalists about his long absence and repeated postponements of return.

They say they are tired of planting breaking news stories about Rahul's possible return only to have the date go by without the Congress vice-president turning up.

A former Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer who is part of Rahul's staff is believed to be in direct touch with him and it is this person who gives Rahul updates about AICC matters, what's happening in the opposition and the news from Parliament.

But even this officer is unable to confirm the the date of Rahul Gandhi's return.

Questions about whether Rahul will return with a 'entrant' in the Gandhi family remain unanswered.

Rahul's office has been dismissing and denying these rumours as mere speculation floated by BJP and RSS camps.