Former Delhi Minister and senior leader Arvinder Singh Lovely formally took charge of the Delhi Congress president on Thursday. After taking charge of the Delhi Congress, Lovely said reviving the party in the national Capital and fixing its organisational structure are among his first priorities.

After taking charge, Lovely asserted that the party will fight against the “corruption” of the ruling parties and raise issues that affect the common people. “I will do my best to live up to the expectations of the high command. I assure everyone that we will work shoulder-to-shoulder with every worker to consolidate the party,” Lovely said.

He further advised party leaders and workers to protest in their areas against any wrongdoing by the ruling AAP Government and the Opposition BJP members.

Lovely asserted that the Congress will forcefully fight against the misrule and corruption of the ruling parties by projecting the Congress stand on crucial issues in unequivocal terms, by taking a definite stand on matters affecting the people. He further said it was the duty and responsibility of every Congress worker to follow the direction of the party high command.

Deepak Babaria, the Congress’ Delhi in-charge, and Ajay Maken, Subhash Chopra, Jai Prakash Agarwal and Anil Chaudhary — former chiefs of the party’s state unit — were present at the programme.  Congress Working Committee members Devender Yadav, former MPs Krishna Tirath, Sandeep Dikshit and Parvesh Hashmi were also present. Senior leader Jai Kishan, Harun Yusuf, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Mukesh Sharma, Kunwar Karan Singh and Naseeb Singh were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, former Union Minister Ajay Maken, addressed the party workers and  said Lovely, who has a great connect with the party workers, will definitely do a very good job to strengthen party  and the presence of thousands of Congress workers today was a clear indication that the party was in a resurgent mode.

Earlier, former Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra thanked Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Deepak Babaria and the party High Command for the appointment of Lovely as the Delhi Congress president.

He also introduced a resolution, which was passed unanimously. Many happy Congress workers said this was not a public meeting, but a “Congress workers’ mela” as they were all elated at the return of Lovely as the Delhi Congress president, which, they felt, will give a new impetus to the party, and boost enthusiasm among the Congress workers.

Lovely has served as transport, education, urban development and revenue minister during the Congress regime in Delhi. He has served as Delhi Congress chief earlier as well.

 Lovely was fielded against the BJP’s Gautam Gambhir and the AAP’s Atishi from the East Delhi constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.