Ajay Maken unwilling to stay on as Congress Rajasthan in-charge, writes to Kharge

In his one-page letter on November 8, Maken cited the developments on September 25, which warrants the party's interest in having a new in-charge of Rajasthan

The Congress is staring at another round of trouble in Rajasthan with senior leader Ajay Maken conveying to party president Mallikarjun Kharge his "unwillingness" to continue as state in-charge amid continuing indecision on the leadership question and factional fight.

Maken wrote to Kharge on November 8 highlighting that the developments of September 25 when he could not convene a meeting of Congress Legislature Party "warrants the party's interest" in having a new in-charge in the state, as he wants to concentrate in Delhi politics.

He also pointed to the December 4 bypoll in the state and the Bharat Jodo Yatra entering Rajasthan in the first week of December and it is "imperative" to have a new in charge "as soon as possible," sources said on Tuesday.

Though it has not been mentioned in the letter, sources said Maken was unhappy with the decision to appoint three Gehlot loyalists -- Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi, and Dharmendra Rathore as coordinators for Bharat Jodo Yatra, as they were facing disciplinary action for the September 25 rebellion. In his report, Maken had put the onus on these three leaders for the rebellion and sought strict action.

Sources said the leadership urged him to take back his resignation but he refused.

The Congress in Rajasthan is a divided house with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot at loggerheads over the leadership question. Pilot has renewed the attack on Gehlot, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise for the Chief Minister.

Though it has not been mentioned in the letter, sources said Maken was unhappy with the decision to allot responsibility of the Bharat Jodo Yatra to leaders who were facing disciplinary action for the September 25 rebellion.

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Maken has been at the centre of the tussle in the state and perceived to be backing Pilot for the post of chief minister. The September 25 episode, which Gehlot and his supporters believe was to pitch Pilot as successor, has also led to a trust deficit between Gehlot and Maken, which was amplified in the run up to the Congress president election last month.

Along with Kharge, who was then assigned as senior observer by Sonia Gandhi, Maken called a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party to authorise the then Congress president to choose Gehlot's successor amid indications that Pilot is the central leadership's choice.

However, Gehlot's supporters rebelled against this, leading to the meeting being cancelled. Following this, three senior Gehlot supporters were show caused but no action has been taken.

While Maken has pledged his loyalty to Rahul Gandhi, whom he "trusts and have faith in beyond words", Maken has told Kharge that he wants to concentrate on Delhi politics "through trade unions and NGOs."

He said he intends to raise issues of air pollution and fight for the rights of street vendors, slum dwellers and residents of unauthorised colonies, for whom he had made "specific valuable contributions" as a Minister of State in Manmohan Singh government and Minister in Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government.

"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", he said in his one-page letter.