Mysuru: It took over 50 years for Congress party that ruled Karnataka for maximum number of years to have its own Office in Mysuru near the Railway Station and that too, after a prolonged legal battle.

The new Congress Office (temporary structure) was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah yesterday in the presence of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr. G. Parameshwara.

The government had allotted 11,000 square feet adjoining the City Railway Station to the Congress party on a 99-year lease, for the construction of Congress Bhavan, on January 27, 1967. Then, it had stipulated an annual rent of Rs. 12 and the allotment letter mentioned that the land must be used for construction of Congress Office building.

In 1980s, however, a private Trust, floated by the then Minister Azeez Sait and MLA D. Jayadevaraje Urs, by name D. Devaraj Urs Social, Economical, Political and Educational Trust, claimed its right over the land.

The Congress, led by the then City President Javaregowda, moved the Court and succeeded in getting back the site as the documents were in the name of Congress Party and not the Trust. But the controversy continued with the Trust refusing to give up.

However, in May 2017, D. Devaraj Urs Trust passed a resolution and handed over the site to Congress Party along with the land records, for the construction of Congress Bhavan. Minister Tanveer Sait, who is also the President of the Trust, on May 16, handed over a copy of the resolution passed at the meeting and also the site records to Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and KPCC President Dr. G. Parameshwara.

Interestingly, the then Prime Minister and AICC President Indira Gandhi had laid the foundation stone for Congress Bhavan at the site during her visit to Mysuru. S.M. Krishna as the CM had announced Rs. 10 lakh for the construction of the Bhavan.

Now, a temporary structure has been inaugurated and a blue-print for a new Office is ready and the building will be constructed in a traditional style to match Mysuru’s heritage structures.