With Rahul Gandhi all set to take over as Congress president in early December, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters at 24, Akbar Road in the national capital is getting a makeover to welcome the new party chief.
The AICC headquarters, which had for the most part, since the Congress' electoral debacle in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, worn a deserted and desolate look, is suddenly abuzz with hectic activity.
Scaffolding covered the facade of the building for repair and renovation. Old pipes and wires of the air conditioners were being replaced, and would be tucked in properly. The walls would get a fresh coat of paint once the repair work was complete.
The party office was also getting an early spring cleaning, with junk such as old typewriters and computers being taken out of the rooms. Broken tables, chairs and almirahs were also being disposed of. Among the old articles that were taken out of the party building was an old, rusted moped, which at one time was used to deliver letters to the houses of party leaders.
The media enclosure was being spruced up, and a new sound system of German make had been ordered, which would be installed for leaders to address reporters.
According to sources, the board outside the party office, which at present has the image of current Congress president Sonia Gandhi on it, would be replaced with a new board that would have images of both Sonia and Rahul on it.
Sources said Rahul would continue to occupy the room presently allocated to him, and the office presently designated for the Congress president would continue to be with Sonia. The two rooms were sealed by the Special Protection Group, and are opened only on the rare occasions when the two leaders come to the party office. However, leaders expect Rahul to come to the AICC headquarters more often than his mother.
Rahul, who is currently campaigning for the Assembly elections in Gujarat, was expected to file his nomination for election as Congress president on December 4. A contest appears unlikely, and Rahul could be declared the new party chief on December 11, which is the last date for withdrawal of candidature. He would take over from Sonia, who has been party chief for almost 20 years.
