Maken resigns as DPCC president

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 26

The Delhi Congress Committee (DPPC) president, Ajay Maken, today resigned from his post, accepting moral responsibility for his party's dismal performance in the civic polls.

Maken announced resignation during the election trends showing the Congress registering a win in eight seats and leading in 26 seats. Maken said he will not take up any post in the party for a year and perform his duty as an ordinary worker.

"It is a reasonable revival of the Congress, but I had hoped for something better than this. So, as the president of DPCC I take moral responsibility and have decided to resign from my post," he said.

"We have fought the election on positive issues. We are satisfied that we raised reasonable issues in the election. I was given a free hand during my two-year tenure as Delhi Congress president in organisational appointments," he said.

A DPCC official said Maken has submitted his resignation, but it has not yet been accepted by the high command.

Dikshit blames it on local leaders

Former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said her party did not campaign aggressively enough to win the civic polls. However, she exonerated the party high command and put the onus of the loss on the local leaders.

She said despite being elected thrice in a row to be the Chief Minister, she was not invited to campaign for the party candidates for the municipal polls.

"The Congress did not campaign in an aggressive way," Dikshit told mediapersons.