Congress leaders on Saturday, 31 October 2026, gathered at Shakti Sthal in New Delhi to pay floral tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 42nd death anniversary, honouring her legacy as a leader whose sacrifices, they said, continue to shape the party and the nation.

Senior Leaders at Shakti Sthal

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were among the dignitaries who visited the Indira Gandhi Memorial and offered wreaths at Shakti Sthal. The memorial drew party workers and leaders from across the country.

Tributes from State Units

In Bengaluru, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad described Indira Gandhi as the 'Iron Lady' of India, saying her sacrifice for national unity would be remembered indefinitely. 'Today is the 42nd death anniversary of my great leader, the Iron Lady of India, Indira Gandhi... Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life for the unity of this country. Her great sacrifices will be remembered forever when we talk about the unity of the great country that is India,' he said.

All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba paid tribute by highlighting Indira Gandhi's foundational role in women's political participation. 'Indira-ji can never be forgotten; there is no question of merely remembering her. She lives on in our memories, through her sacrifice and devotion. Martyr, India's first female Prime Minister, Bharat Ratna Indira Gandhi-ji, on her martyrdom day, we remember her,' Lamba said. She added that the late Prime Minister had insisted on women's active participation in politics, a legacy later advanced when Rajiv Gandhi introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj and Sonia Gandhi steered the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill.

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President Uday Bhanu Chib also recalled her contributions, saying, 'We remember Indira Gandhi. We remember what she has done for this country. She has sacrificed her life for the betterment of our country, Hindustan, and we are following the same path.'

Life, Tenure and Landmark Achievements

Indira Gandhi was born on 19 November 1917 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, the daughter of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru. She served as Prime Minister across two terms — 1966 to 1977 and 1980 to 1984 — until her assassination on 31 October 1984.

Among her most consequential decisions was leading India through the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which directly resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. She authorised India's first peaceful nuclear test at Pokhran in 1974 and significantly expanded the country's space programme. Her administration championed the Green Revolution, steering high-yielding agricultural policies that moved India toward food self-reliance. She also nationalised 14 of India's largest commercial banks to redirect credit toward agriculture, small industries, and rural development, and chaired the Non-Aligned Movement, positioning India as an influential voice for developing nations during the Cold War.

National Integration Day

National Integration Day, observed annually on 19 November to coincide with her birth anniversary, was instituted by the Indian National Congress in 1985 to honour her role in promoting national unity. As India moves toward a larger global role, the observance continues to serve as a reminder of her contributions to keeping a diverse nation united. The 42nd death anniversary, marked with quiet dignity at Shakti Sthal, underscores how deeply her political legacy remains embedded in the Congress identity.