New Delhi: I am 24, Akbar Road speaking — the bungalow of the Lutyens-era which, from January 15, 2025, will be remembered as part of history.
Once the Akbar Road bungalow was home to Sir Reginald Maxwell, a member of Viceroy Lord Linlithgow’s Executive Council. It was also house to a young Aung San Suu Kyi, when her mother was appointed India’s ambassador, in 1961.
As the Congress headquarters, it has been a witness to many ups and downs in its 47 years, and seen the tenures of seven Congress presidents.
After the Supreme Court’s directive, all parties had to shift their offices outside Lutyens Zone. Finally, the Congress headquarters relocated to 9A, Kotla Road, equipped with modern facilities and amenities, but the party’s emotional connection with 24, Akbar Road and its history will always remain etched in memory.
On a cold January morning in 1978, a group of 20 workers from the Indira Gandhi-led breakaway Congress arrived at 24, Akbar Road, led by Shobhan Singh. From then on, it became the Congress headquarters.
In the 60s, it was called Burma House
After 47 years, it’s another cold January. The Congress party has unveiled its new headquarters. Importantly, on both occasions, the Congress, while in opposition, grappled with electoral challenges. Back then, during Indira Gandhi’s tenure, the Congress was struggling to return to power after the Emergency, and now, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi face the challenge of ending their power drought.
The Type VII bungalow at 24, Akbar Road was then allotted to G. Venkataswamy, a Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh. He decided to back Indira Gandhi at a time when most Congress leaders had abandoned her.
In the 1960s, 24 Akbar Road was known as “Burma House”, a name coined by Jawaharlal Nehru. It was here that Aung San Suu Kyi lived with her mother.
In 1980, the Congress lost Sanjay Gandhi
After the Emergency, Indira Gandhi was going through a tough time. Mohammad Yunus offered his house, 12, Willingdon Crescent, to the Gandhi family as their private residence. Thus, it became home to Indira, Rajiv, his wife Sonia, their children Rahul and Priyanka, Sanjay, Maneka, and five dogs.
Now, there was not adequate space at 12, Willingdon Crescent, and therefore, 24, Akbar Road was made the new official Congress headquarters. In 1980, the Congress returned to power.
In 1980, the Congress lost Sanjay Gandhi, in 1984 Indira Gandhi, and in 1991 Rajiv Gandhi — all while the party headquarters remained here.
It also witnessed crushing defeats in 2014 and 2019
It also witnessed the dramatic developments that unfolded in 1998, when Sitaram Kesri was removed and Sonia Gandhi took charge as party chief. The party’s division over the issue of Sonia’s foreign origin is also linked to this office.
Later, under Sonia’s leadership, the party saw consecutive Lok Sabha election victories in 2004 and 2009, as well as heavy defeats in 2014 and 2019 — all from this very headquarters.
In 1984, 24 Akbar Road served as the headquarters during Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots that followed. In 2004, it also witnessed the swearing-in of Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister. Sonia Gandhi also set the record for the longest tenure as Congress president while operating from this office. It was in this office that Sonia handed over her responsibilities to Rahul Gandhi. However, in 2014, the party suffered its worst electoral defeat in political history, winning only 44 seats.
When 24 Akbar Road became a witness to celebrations
In 2018, Rahul became party president, but his seats only increased to 52. The party failed to secure the Leader of the Opposition position for two consecutive times. Rahul resigned from the party president post. Before 2024, Mallikarjun Kharge became party president, and the INDIA bloc was formed. Congress reached 99 seats. The BJP fell short of a majority for the third time in a row.
Rahul, who embarked on his political journey from this very office in 2004, went on to win from Rae Bareli in 2024 and became the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. After 2014, it was in 2024 that 24 Akbar Road apparently looked lively and bustled with activity once again.
Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi became a Rajya Sabha MP and Priyanka Gandhi made her MP debut from Rahul’s vacated Wayanad seat, which also called for celebration at 24 Akbar Road.
Eventually, Congress, which was ousted from power in 2014 due to the Anna movement and corruption allegations since 2012, has emerged from one of the worst periods in its history. Before that, 1991 witnessed the Narasimha Rao era.
It witnessed a period away from power and tensions with the Gandhi family. Later, the Sitaram Kesri era also unfolded here in 1996.
It also witnessed Rajiv Gandhi being voted out of power
This headquarters saw the biggest victory in history after Indira Gandhi’s death in 1985, and also witnessed Rajiv Gandhi’s ouster from power in 1989 due to the Bofors scandal. One advantage of this house was a gate that connected it to 10, Janpath, then the office of the Indian Youth Congress and later the residence of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. This made it easier for the party president to move between home and office.
Before Independence, Motilal Nehru’s Anand Bhavan in Allahabad served as the Congress headquarters. After 1947, the party shifted its headquarters to 7, Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. In 1969, when the Congress split, the Indira faction lost 7, Jantar Mantar. Indira Gandhi then set up a temporary party office at Congress leader MV Krishnappa’s residence at Windsor Place.
In 1971, the Congress office carried out its functioning from 5, Rajendra Prasad Road. After the Emergency, it shifted from there to 24, Akbar Road in 1978. On January 15, 2025, Sonia Gandhi inaugurated Indira Gandhi Bhavan in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.