Congress Party will have to leave the national headquarters located at 24 Akbar Road. The date to vacate it is March 28. However, meanwhile a Congress leader says, the party is exploring legal options. Extension will be sought for this. Turning the pages of history, we find that the Congress led by Indira Gandhi had transferred its office to number 24 on Akbar Road in 1978 when the party was out of power for the first time after independence. Indira Gandhi had to face defeat in the Lok Sabha elections held after the Emergency.
There was a split in the Congress too and the Indira faction had no office. Venkataswamy, the then MP from Andhra Pradesh, had offered his official residence at 24, Akbar Road to the party. Although 24, Akbar Road was started as a temporary arrangement, the Congress remained there.
There was a split in the party
Author and political analyst Rashid Kidwai of the book ’24 Akbar Road’ writes, the bungalow at 24 Akbar Road located in Lutyens Delhi is owned by Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh G. It belonged to Venkataswami. Venkataswamy supported Indira Gandhi at that time, while most of the party leaders were keeping distance from him, because they feared that by staying close to Indira Gandhi, the then ruling Janata Party might take revenge on him.
This bungalow at 24 Akbar RoadDesigned by Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1911 and 1925.
The headquarters became 34 rooms from 8 rooms.
It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1911 and 1925. It is said to be an example of British colonial architecture. Initially this bungalow used to have 8 rooms, but after becoming the Congress headquarters, it increased from 8 rooms to 34 rooms. The entire complex is divided into five parts. From Indira to Sonia Gandhi, all Congress presidents made some changes in it.
Rahul Gandhi in 24 Akbar Road premises.
Where was the Congress Party office after independence?
Since independence, the office of the Congress Party was at 7 Jantar Mantar Road. The party first transferred its office to 5 Rajendra Prasad Road in 1971 and then to 24 Akbar Road in 1978. Indira Gandhi returned to power with an overwhelming majority in 1980.
According to Rashid Kidwai, he refused to claim the old party office. Told my son Sanjay Gandhi, I have rebuilt the party not once, but twice. The new office will work to infuse new energy among the party workers for decades.
notice to vacate
In 2015, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government had canceled four bungalows allotted to the Congress, including 24 Akbar Road, as the party had missed its deadline to shift to the new location.
Apart from its headquarters, the three other bungalows that Congress was asked to vacate include 26 Akbar Road, which houses the Seva Dal office. Youth Congress office at 5 Raisina Road and C-II/109 Chanakyapuri, which was allotted to Vincent George, a close aide of Sonia Gandhi.
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