Ajay Maken Resigns as Delhi Cong Chief Months Before 2019 Polls

The 54-year-old politician, took over as Delhi Congress president in 2015.

(Photo: PTI)

Ajay Maken has resigned as chief of the Congress in Delhi, months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, reported ANI. In a tweet on Friday, 4 January, Maken “thanked” party president Rahul Gandhi, and the workers for their support,

The 54-year-old politician had taken over as Delhi Congress president in 2015, after the party had lost the elections to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

In October 2018, the party had denied reports suggesting Maken’s resignation, asserting that he had “temporarily stepped down” due to health problems.

PC Chacko, who stepped in for Maken as the Congress in-charge of Delhi had then said:

“Ajay Maken has some health problem and has gone for medical checkup. He’ll be back next week and probably he’s a little worried that he can’t devote full time or travel the way he wants. On his return, we’ll discuss working arrangements but the fact is he has not resigned.”

Maken, a two-time MP from the capital replaced Arvinder Singh Lovely as Delhi Congress chief.

This is not the first time Maken has resigned from his post. In 2017, when the party received a drubbing in the civic polls, Maken had tendered his resignation, which was reportedly not accepted by Rahul Gandhi, then the party’s vice president.