Congress explores Rajya Sabha route to retain iconic 24 Akbar Road

Around March, the BJP-led central government issued notices to the Congress to vacate its landmark premises at 24 Akbar Road and 5 Raisina Road, where the Youth Congress office is located. Though the grand old party managed temporary relief following back-channel negotiations with the ruling dispensation, the short-term reprieve did not resolve the long-term uncertainty surrounding the iconic address.

With the next Rajya Sabha election cycle around the corner, the Congress is now considering a permanent legal solution to retain 24 Akbar Road — apparently “that too has been advised by those in power”. According to sources, one of the options being considered is to get a former chief minister elected to the Upper House in the next round of polls and have the bungalow allotted in his name

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Under existing norms, Type-7 bungalows such as 24 Akbar Road can be allotted to former chief ministers or former Union Cabinet ministers, which is why names such as Ashok Gehlot, Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel are under circulation. High-end Type-7 government accommodations, such as those on Akbar Road, are officially allotted by the Directorate of Estates to prominent parliamentarians, with special priority given to those who have served as state chief ministers. The eviction notices to the Congress followed the construction of its new headquarters, Indira Gandhi Bhawan.

The current phase of Rajya Sabha elections, notifications for which are expected anytime now, includes seats across multiple states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.“By electing an influential former chief minister to the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming 2026 biennial elections, the party can formally get the Akbar Road bungalow allotted in that leader’s name. This would allow the party to legally bypass eviction and continue utilising the space for party operations,” a source said.

The Congress is expecting Rajya Sabha seats from multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Jharkhand. From Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the party is expected to secure at least one seat each, and from Karnataka two seats, with a possibility of a third as well. Jharkhand, too, is expected to send one Congress MP as part of the INDIA bloc alliance.

The recent Assembly election outcomes in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal are expected to significantly alter the Opposition strength in the Rajya Sabha in the coming days. One notable development is expected to be the entry of Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The party is expected to make its first appearance in the Upper House during the elections scheduled this year.