NEW DELHI: Former chief minister Sheila Dikshit was appointed as the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president on Thursday, days after Ajay Maken resigned from the post citing ill-health. Making the announcement, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the party's Delhi unit, P C Chacko, said Dikshit would be assisted by three working presidents -- Devender Yadav, Haroon Yusuf and Rajesh Lilotia.

Ajay Maken took on Twitter and congratulated Sheila Dikshit. He said that under her leadership the Congress party will play the role of a powerful opposition against the governments in the national capital and at the Centre.


Eighty-year-old Dikshit has been a three-time chief minister of Delhi.

Earlier, Congress Delhi Unit chief Ajay Maken had tendered his resignation from the post citing health reasons. The move came only months before the 2019 general elections and it is being said that Maken may get a new Central role and even contest the Lok Sabha election.

Dikshit thanked the party leadership for the opportunity. "I am honoured that the party has given me this opportunity."