A grand three-day event commemorating the centenary of the historic 1924 All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in Belagavi, where Mahatma Gandhi presided, has been announced by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar. The celebrations aim to honor this milestone in Congress history and highlight its enduring legacy.
Addressing Congress leaders during a preparatory meeting at Congress Bhavan, Shivakumar underscored the importance of collective participation, urging every worker in Belagavi to mobilize 5,000 attendees. The event, scheduled for December 26-27, will see an extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, alongside a Congress workers’ conference at the CPED ground on December 27.
Key attendees include AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and senior party leaders, including 150 MPs, 40 Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, and other dignitaries. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will host a dinner for the visiting leaders on December 26 and welcome them at Veer Soudha.
The Karnataka government has allocated ₹7-8 crore for illuminating Belagavi, with lighting installations designed to rival the grandeur of Mysuru Dasara. The decorations will remain in place for a week, offering residents and visitors a festive atmosphere.
Shivakumar highlighted the historical significance of Gandhi’s session in 1924, recalling his profound simplicity and symbolic gestures that left an enduring mark on Belagavi. He further emphasized the pride in Karnataka’s Mallikarjun Kharge leading the Congress at the national level during this centenary celebration.
The event holds immense importance as Congress looks to strengthen its grassroots presence. Shivakumar announced the inauguration of 100 new party offices across Karnataka, with AICC General Secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala overseeing preparations next week.
Stressing the political importance, Shivakumar expressed confidence that the Belagavi centenary celebrations would act as a turning point for Congress’s resurgence in Karnataka and beyond. “This historic event should pave the way for Congress to return to power in 2028 and mark a new chapter in our party’s journey,” he asserted.
The centenary celebrations will feature resolutions passed by the AICC and are part of a year-long series of government programs honoring Gandhi’s leadership and the significance of the 1924 session.
