It was perhaps former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's first meeting at the state Congress office after her former loyalist and now protege Ajay Maken took over as the PCC chief. Dikshit, who has rarely visited the office since 2014 when the party was routed in the Assembly elections, stepped into Rajiv Bhawan on Monday for a high level meeting of Delhi Congress.
The meeting, which gave an indication to the enhanced role to be played by Dikshit in the affairs of Delhi Congress, was attended by Maken, AICC in charge of Delhi P.C. Chacko, former PCC chiefs, former MPs and ministers from Dikshit's erstwhile cabinet.
The idea is to present a united face, and remind the people about the work done during the 15-year-rule of the Dikshit government.
In a surprise move, Dikshit and Maken shared stage last week to launch a united assault on the Arvind Kejriwal government on its completion of three years. On Sunday, both the leaders were present at a workers' convention in Jangpura constituency of Delhi. The new-found bonhomie comes at a time when a mini-Assembly election is expected soon in the national capital, with bypolls looming large in 20 constituencies after disqualification of AAP MLAs for holding office of profit.
The Congress effort is described as a soft launch of the party's campaign for the bypolls.
According to sources, Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked Maken to get Dikshit on board, giving her more space in the affairs of the party in Delhi.
It is learnt that in his report on the Congress' dismal presence in the Delhi political scenario, Chacko has noted that the divisions in the state unit of the party, with the Maken and Dikshit camps being seen as unbridgeable, are not helping it make a comeback. The party has no MLA in the Delhi Assembly, and its performance in the municipal corporation elections in early 2017 was extremely poor. The report spoke for a more aggressive ownership of the work done by the Dikshit government.
Maken had tweeted on February 6 after meeting Dikshit, “Met Mrs Sheila Dikshit and requested her for more active role in Delhi Congress. Delhi now remembers her for a sane and development oriented governance. Sheila ji had a great role in mentoring me as her cabinet minister. We will all work together to regain the glory of Delhi.”
On the third anniversary of the Kejriwal government, Maken waxed eloquent about the achievements of the Dikshit government, comparing the work done during her chief ministership with the 'failures' of the AAP dispensation.
The veteran leader looks set to make her presence felt yet again in Delhi.