PMO sources late tonight said that Rahul met the Prime Minister on Saturday to say that he won't be in town and had already thanked him.
There was speculation that Rahul was probably travelling abroad and would be back before counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls begins on Friday.
When asked why Rahul had not attended the dinner, Union Minister Kamal Nath said that he was not aware of the reason. “I do not know why he did not attend,” he said.
Another minister R P N Singh when asked about questions raised over Rahul's absence said,”It is unfortunate that politics is being done over it.”