Maken to be the face of Congress in Delhi polls

Party's campaign committee chief says Sheila Dikshit era has come to an end

Former Union minister Ajay Maken, considered close to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, will be the party’s face in the coming Delhi Assembly polls.

Maken, appointed the campaign committee chief on Tuesday, will contest from the Sadar constituency, sources said.

“The sun has set on Sheila Dikshit’s electoral innings; I am 50 years old and it is the beginning of a new era,” said Maken. Dikshit (76) the three-time chief minister of Delhi, had last week gone public with her decision not to contest the polls.

However, the Congress has appointed her a “star campaigner” for the party.

Projecting Congress leaders as “trusted and tested”, Maken said: “The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) may be trusted but not tested.”

Congress’ Delhi unit is set to release a booklet on the AAP and its chief, Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier, it had released “U Turns of the BJP”.  Dikshit’s recent comment on offering support to an AAP-led government to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out had embarrassed the Congress.

President Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee is expected to contest from Greater Kailash, while the New Delhi constituency is likely to field former minister Kiran Walia. The party is likely to field familiar faces Krishna Tirath, Yoganand Shastri, Mahabal Mishra, and Ashok Walia —  all ministers in the Dikshit Cabinet.

Hitting out at the BJP, Maken said: “Will Narendra Modi become the CM of Delhi? In his speech, he said vote for people who have experience in the administration... But that experience pertains to Gujarat, not Delhi... People like us have been in the Delhi administration for nearly 15 years... We are trusted and tested,” he said.

Maken will be heading a 101-member campaign committee and a list of 45 candidates is slated to be declared on Wednesday. In order to send out a message that it cannot be written off, the Congress had started declaring its candidates even before poll dates were announced.

When asked about Congress’ chief ministerial candidate, P C Chacko, who is in charge of party affairs in Delhi, did not give a direct answer. However, there were enough indications that Maken would be the party’s face for the upcoming polls and, therefore, he will be the strongest contender for the CM’s post, should such a situation arise.

Highlighting his achievements, Maken said, “I have a performance of 21 years without facing any charge. I started my career as Parliamentary secretary and I have learnt all my administrative skills from Sheila Dikshit. Thereafter, I have held several posts and responsibilities as Delhi Cabinet minister.”

He also claimed credit for introducing compressed natural gas-based public transport system in Delhi when he was transport minister. “I was Union minister with Urban Development and Sports ministries and have had a ‘bedaag’ career,” he said.