Ahmedabad: The city is set to host the 84th National Convention of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on April 8-9, marking the first time in 64 years that the event is being held in Gujarat. The convention, taking place on the banks of the Sabarmati River, will witness the participation of around 3,000 Congress leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and KC Venugopal.

With senior Congress leaders staying in Ahmedabad for two days, the party has booked 2,000 hotel rooms in the city and surrounding areas. As a result, major hotels such as ITC Narmada, Fortune Landmark and Courtyard Marriott are fully booked for the event. Other accommodations reserved for Congress leaders include Hyatt, The Fern, Lemon Tree, Rivera, and Radisson Blu.

It is also noteworthy that while ITC Narmada and Marriott are already sold out, the fares for Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Ahmedabad have skyrocketed on the days of the AICC convention. The regular fare, which starts at around ₹6,000 on average, has reached ₹18,000 and ₹39,000 for April 8th and 9th. Price increases can be seen in most hotels, such as Radisson Blu.

To facilitate transportation, Congress has arranged cars and buses, with party workers also expected to provide vehicles if needed. Additional rentals from private travel agencies and hotel transport services have been secured.

This level of hotel booking is usually seen during major cricket matches or concerts, but this time, it is a political event driving the surge in reservations. Since the convention will be held at the Riverfront and Sardar Patel Memorial, Congress has ensured that all nearby hotels are booked for its delegates.

The last AICC convention in Gujarat was held in Bhavnagar in 1961, making this event a significant political gathering for the party. DeshGujarat