New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi will lay the foundation stone of the party's new office at the capital's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg on Dec 28 to kick off the functions commemorating 125 years of the party's formation.

The party Friday held the first meeting of the organising committee constituted to celebrate its 125th anniversary at the residence of the Congress chief. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also attended the meeting.

Briefing media persons later, Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said that Sonia Gandhi will declare the programme for the year-long celebrations Dec 28. He said the celebrations would continue throughout the year and culminate on Dec 28, 2010.

The foundation stone of the new office will be laid at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg where the party has been allotted land under a proposal mooted by the Urban Development Ministry. The building is expected to be completed in a year.

The function on Dec 28 will be attended by the Congress Working Committee members and party delegates from different parts of the country. State units of the party will also hold functions on that day.

Dwivedi indicated that the schedule of the commemorative programmes was still being worked out as the party is also due to hold its organisational polls next year.

The 19-member organizing committee is headed by Sonia Gandhi with Defence Minister A.K. Antony as its vice-chairman. The party will complete 125 years of its formation on Dec 28, 2010.