nFormer Union Minister Tariq Anwar, who recently returned to the Congress fold after quitting NCP, is all set to take the command of Delhi Congress after party’s incharge for Delhi PC Chacko in a surprise move sought to be relieved from the position.
AICC sources said that Anwar is most likely to be assigned the charge of Delhi Congress in view of the assembly elections in the national Capital a few months from now.
Ever since it lost power in Delhi, the State Congress has witnessed several turbulent phases and is yet to recover from the losses due to internal bickering between several camps revolving around Chacko.
Chacko had on Wednesday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and conveyed his decision to quit the post on the ground that he has been occupying it for the last four and half years. The former MP, however, said he does not want to go back to Kerala politics and wants the Congress leadership to consider him for a different assignment within the party.
“I have expressed my willingness to be relieved. I do not know if they have decided to relieve me. If I am relieved, I will be happy,” said Chacko who alonwgith former Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken was hell bent to forge an alliance with Aam Admi Party for the Lok Sabha polls. The plan, however, did not materialize due to stiff resistance from Sheila Dikshit, who died recently.
“I have apprised party president Sonia Gandhi about my willingness to be relieved during my meeting with her on Tuesday in which selection of the Delhi Congress president was discussed,” Chacko further said.
Chacko said he has been working as AICC incharge of Delhi Congress for the past four and half years and has overseen many elections. It is time that some new incharge takes over along with a new president.
His desire to be relieved from the post has also been communicated to former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Chacko said it was up to the party to consider him for any other responsibility.
The party leader, however, rejected insinuations that his decision was prompted by the Congress’s massive defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi this year.
Delhi goes to elections later this year and the Congress is seeking to wrest power from the(AAP in the national capital.
