Come January 15, and the Indian National Congress will have a new house. This will be a significant transition for the party as it moves its national headquarters from the long-established 24, Akbar Road. Its new house will be a newly constructed state-of-the-art facility named Indira Gandhi Bhawan. It is located at 9A, Kotla Road, New Delhi.
In other words, it will be after decades that the party with a legacy of 139 years will move from its historical place to a completely new one.
Here are key highlights about this.
- New Address and Inauguration: The Congress’ new headquarters, Indira Gandhi Bhawan, will be officially inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. The event will also feature the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
- Historical Background: The previous headquarters at 24 Akbar Road served as the party’s central office since 1978. It was offered to the party by MP Gaddam Venkatswamy during a politically turbulent time when Indira Gandhi’s faction of the Congress was out of power and lacked a formal office.Before settling at Akbar Road, the Congress had operated from 7 Jantar Mantar Road and 5 Rajendra Prasad Road as well
- New Building Features: The swanky Indira Gandhi Bhawan is designed with modern facilities to cater to the evolving needs of the party’s administrative, organisational, and strategic activities. The building reflects the Congress party’s forward-looking vision while paying homage to its historical legacy, particularly the contributions of its leaders like Indira Gandhi.
- Event Details: The grand inauguration will witness participation from approximately 400 top Congress leaders, including members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Pradesh Congress Committee Presidents, Congress Legislative Party Leaders, and Members of Parliament.
- Significance of the New Headquarters: The new headquarters aims to rejuvenate the party’s rank and file, serving as a symbol of both continuity and change. It will house the offices of all party leaders and office-bearers, including the party president, with a phased relocation process expected to be completed over several months.
- Retention of 24, Akbar Road: Although the central operations will shift to the new building, the Congress plans to retain the Akbar Road bungalow for high-profile meetings and special events, following a similar approach to the BJP’s retention of its office on Ashoka Road.
Historical Context: The journey from 24 Akbar Road to the new Indira Gandhi Bhawan mirrors the Congress party’s own historical ebbs and flows. The Akbar Road office, once a temporary solution during a period of political exile, became a symbol of the party’s resilience and continuity. This shift to a modern facility signifies the party’s readiness to adapt and evolve while staying connected to its roots.
The construction of Indira Gandhi Bhawan began with the foundation stone laid in December 2009 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. Despite delays, the building now stands ready to support the Congress’s future endeavours.
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