Kharge hoists flag at AICC HQ on Independence Day 2026
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On Independence Day, 15 August 2026, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge led the flag-hoisting ceremony at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi — the party's annual salute to the nation's founding moment. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared a live broadcast of the event on X, bringing the ceremony to party workers and supporters across the country.
A tradition the grand old party keeps
Major Indian political parties have long observed the custom of hoisting the national flag at their headquarters on 15 August, using the occasion for leadership addresses to members and the public. For the Indian National Congress — the party that stewarded India's independence movement — the ritual carries particular weight. The AICC headquarters in New Delhi becomes the focal point for Congress workers nationwide on this day.
Kharge at the helm since October 2022
Mallikarjun Kharge has served as Congress President since October 2022, when he was elected in the party's first internal presidential contest in over two decades. His presence at the flag-hoisting underscores the party's effort to project organisational continuity and leadership visibility on a day when all eyes are on national symbols and political messaging.
The live broadcast format — streamed directly on X — reflects the party's push to reach younger, digitally connected audiences beyond traditional media. Remarks delivered by Kharge during the ceremony were expected to set the Congress's political tone for the period ahead.