Centre Orders Indian National Congress to Vacate Historic Akbar Road HQ

The bungalow at Akbar Road has served as the party’s central hub for 48 years

Digital Desk: In a move likely to trigger a major political confrontation, the Centre has reportedly directed the Indian National Congress to vacate its iconic headquarters at 24 Akbar Road by 28^th March , ending its nearly five-decade presence at the landmark address.

According to reports citing party sources, the Estate Department has issued a notice asking the Congress to vacate the premises by the deadline. The directive also extends to the Indian Youth Congress office at 5 Raisina Road.

The bungalow at Akbar Road has served as the party’s central hub for 48 years. Although the Congress shifted to its new headquarters, Indira Bhavan, last year, several operations have continued from the old premises, reflecting the party’s deep-rooted association with the site.

The property holds significant historical and political value. Before Independence, it housed Sir Reginald Maxwell of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. In the 1960s, it was the residence of Myanmar’s ambassador Daw Khin Kyi, where her daughter Aung San Suu Kyi spent part of her early years.

Its most defining political phase began after the 1977 Indian general election defeat, when Indira Gandhi used the bungalow as the base for her faction following a party split. From there, the Congress staged a political comeback, with the premises continuing as its headquarters during the tenures of Rajiv Gandhi, P. V. Narasimha Rao, and Manmohan Singh.

With the deadline approaching, the issue is expected to escalate politically, given the legacy attached to the address and the party’s continued use of the premises.