Trouble for Congress as Ajay Maken quits as Rajasthan in-charge

Sources have revealed that Congress leader has quit his position as Rajasthan in-charge, citing the reasons as him being upset no action being taken against the three loyalists of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The three aids to Gehlot were given show cause notices for holding a parallel Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Jaipur on September 25. The lack of action against them prompted All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Ajay Maken to resign.

Maken wrote a letter, according to the sources, to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on November 8, expressing his “unwillingness to continue in the position given that no action had been taken against Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, party chief whip Mahesh Joshi and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) chairman Dharmendra Rathore despite the disciplinary committee serving them show-cause notices”.

“I don’t have any moral authority left. With what authority I will interact with the MLAs or discharge my duties as in-charge. There was grave indiscipline but there was no action. Not even an apology,” Maken is learnt to have conveyed to the Congress leadership. His resignation was, however, not accepted by Kharge and he was asked to continue. After having waited for a week, Maken has now resigned.

Mr Maken, who was also criticised by the MLAs loyal to Mr Gehlot for trying to persuade Mr Gehlot to run for Congress president and free up the top post for Sachin Pilot, reportedly said Rajasthan needs a new in-charge after all that had happened under his watch, according to NDTV.

“Wedded to the ideology of Congress for the last three generations and being in active Congress politics for over 40 years, I will always remain an ardent follower of Rahul Ji, whom I trust and have faith in beyond words,” Maken said, concluding his one-page letter to the Congress leadership.