Former chief minister Sheila Dikshit likely to be next Delhi Congress president: Reports

Days after senior Congress leader Ajay Maken resigned as the party’s Delhi unit chief, sources privy to the development claim that former chief minister Sheila Dikshit is leading the race for presidentship of the state Congress unit. As per the reports, the Congress is considering her name because of her stand on the party high command's decision on the possibility of sealing an alliance with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital. "The party will decide, the high command, Rahul Gandhi and all will decide and whatever they decide will be acceptable to all of us," Dikshit had told ANI.

Some reports suggest that Congress leaders Yoganand Shastri, Rajkumar Chauhan, Haroon Yusuf, and Chatar Singh could also be considered as Maken's replacement. 

On the other hand, Maken – who was appointed the Congress's Delhi unit chief after party’s debacle in 2015 Assembly Elections - was strongly opposed to any tie-up with the AAP. But he has insisted that he has tendered his resignation on health grounds which was ‘long pending’. Meanwhile, some reports suggest that he wanted to return to national politics and may contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections. 

Earlier in September, there rumours about his Maken’s resignation in political corridors. However, at that time, the Congress had come forward and dismissed as "rumours" reports about Maken’s resignation. At that time, the party had said that he had gone for a medical checkup abroad and continues holding the post.

Maken had informed Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in-charge of the party's Delhi unit, PC Chacko, about his trip, party leaders had said.

"Maken has not resigned and will continue to be the Delhi Congress chief," Chacko was quoted as saying by PTI.