Days after Phoolka quit AAP on Cong ties, Maken resigns as Delhi Cong chief on ‘health ground’
With senior Congress leader Ajay Maken relinquishing the post of Delhi unit president citing health reasons, chances of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress contesting Lok Sabha elections together have brightened.
Days after HS Phoolka’s resignation from the AAP over the party’s likely tie-up with the Congress, Maken’s resignation assumes significance amid speculation of a possible alliance with the AAP in Delhi for 2019. He had been strongly opposing any coalition with the ruling AAP in the city for upcoming parliamentary polls.
Maken later took to Twitter to announce his resignation. He had taken over as the Delhi unit chief after the party lost the 2015 Assembly election.
“After the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, as its Delhi unit president, I received a lot of love and support from Congress workers, the media covering the party and our leader Rahul Gandhi ji. It was not be easy in these difficult times. Thank you all,” he tweeted.
“My resignation has been accepted and I would now work for the party in preparing it for the 2019 general election, due by May,” Maken told PTI
“I had tendered my resignation in September itself. I met Rahul ji yesterday to insist again (to be relieved as Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief). I said DPCC president should be 100 per cent fit before elections. I would now work for the party and prepare it for the Lok Sabha election,” he told PTI.
When he was asked if his resignation has been accepted, Maken said, “Yes, Yes. That has happened” and added he was undergoing treatment for an orthopaedic ailment.
The AICC incharge of the Delhi unit, PC Chacko, also confirmed Maken’s resignation, saying a search is on to find his successor.
The party sources said former chief minister Sheila Dikshit could replace Maken as Congress’s Delhi unit chief. She has maintained that the party high command’s decision on sealing an alliance in Delhi will be acceptable to her.
The AAP and the Congress have not yet denied the speculation of tie-up.
Congress leaders Yoganand Shastri, Rajkumar Chauhan, Haroon Yusuf and Chatar Singh could also be considered as Maken’s replacement, the sources said