Government asks Congress to vacate iconic party offices in Delhi
The Congress party has received eviction notices asking it to vacate its long-time offices at 24 Akbar Road and 5 Raisina Road in New Delhi by March 28, triggering a fresh political confrontation between the Opposition party and the government.
Party sources confirmed on Wednesday that notices had been issued for the premises housing the Congress’ national headquarters at Akbar Road and the office of the Indian Youth Congress at Raisina Road.
According to sources, the party has acknowledged receiving the notices and is currently examining legal options to challenge the move. Leaders within the party claim that the government is taking a more aggressive approach this time compared to earlier attempts.
Congress says Akbar Road office holds symbolic importance
Although the Congress has already shifted most of its operations to its new headquarters Indira Bhavan, the party continued to retain the Akbar Road address because of its deep symbolic and political significance.
The bungalow at 24 Akbar Road has historically served as the nerve centre of Congress politics for decades.
Party functionaries also pointed out that the Congress has been paying market rent for the property and therefore questioned the basis of the eviction notice.
Congress calls the move politically motivated
Reacting strongly to the development, Congress MP and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticised the move, calling it “illegal and politically motivated”.
Singhvi said the party would explore every available legal avenue to challenge the eviction and protect what it considers an important institutional space in Indian political history.
Property allotment efforts after 2024 elections
Congress leaders also revealed that after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, attempts were made to have the Akbar Road property allotted to a senior Congress MP. However, those efforts did not succeed.
They added that the Raisina Road bungalow had been formally allotted in the party’s name for use by its youth wing.
The eviction notices now threaten to bring an end to the party’s decades-long association with some of its most recognisable political addresses in the national capital.
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