Congress faced with unprecedented challenge: Maken

New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Congress leader Ajay Maken, under whose leadership the party failed to win even a single seat in last month's Delhi assembly polls, Sunday took charge of the party's state unit. He said the party faced "unprecedented challenge".

Maken, who succeeds Arvinder Singh Lovely, assured party workers of adequate representation and participation in the decision making process. Besides, he announced a major party membership drive.

"Having lost three elections in the last 14 months, the party is faced with an unprecedented challenge but it could be converted into an opportunity if the party was to play the role of a meaningful and true opposition with the interest of people solely guiding it," Maken said.

India's oldest political party has been downhill since 2013 assembly polls in Delhi in which it was reduced from 43 to 8 seats. The drubbing was followed by its worst defeat in last year's Lok Sabha elections.

The party failed to open its account in last months's election to 70-member Delhi assembly. Of the 70 Congress candidates, 63, including Maken, forfeited their deposits.

The former union minister also attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not holding any ministerial portfolio.

"The non-assumption any portfolio by the chief minister indicated escaping from responsibility and the AAP government would be well advised to start fulfilling its promises by performing on them rather than just coming out with advertisements," he said.