Rahul Gandhi is a foreigner: Shiv Sena

"He is foreigner. He comes to the country fro spending holidays. If he can't give time to the PM, who has served the nation for ten years, then how can you expect him to serve the country," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told media.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday skipped Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi's farewell dinner for Prime MInister Manmohan Singh as he was out of town, reports said on Thursday.

"After three months of gruelling campaigning, Rahul ji is out of town for two days,"  Congress leader Ajay Maken was quoted as saying by media.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "If you knew he was not attending the dinner AND he'd explained his absence to the PM earlier put out the statement BEFORE the news breaks."

Union ministers and Congress general secretaries attended the dinner on Wednesday.

The dinner was hosted by the Congress supremo at her 10 Janpath residence just two days before the counting of votes on May 16.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday thanked his staff in South Block who bid farewell to him.

The staff gave a standing ovation to the Prime Minister who has served the nation for the past 10 years.

If the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) wins a clear majority, a new government led by Narendra Modi could be a reality by May 20, according to reports, even as top BJP leaders met the Gujarat Chief Minister in Gandhinagar to discuss their post result strategy.

Media reports said Modi could take office sooner if NDA gains clear majority.

A staggered nine-phase Lok Sabha poll ended on May 12 in India with projections in all exit polls that BJP-led NDA will come to power.

Several of the exit polls said NDA will bag at least 272 seats while some put the figure at around 282 in the 543 member Parliament.