Maken rewarded for damage control
29 Oct 2012 5:33 AM IST
Congress MP from New Delhi seat Ajay Maken has created a record by becoming the youngest cabinet minister from Delhi. Maken was on Sunday elevated to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet as minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. Earlier as Minister of state with independent charge he looked after the ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.
Maken has been rewarded for damage control in the sports ministry, which came in for lot of controversy during the organisation of the Commonwealth Games in 2010. As soon as the news of his elevation arrived, his supporters celebrated outside his Pandit Pant Marg residence with drums and crackers.
Maken began his political career as president of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) in 1985 and was elected member for the first time of Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1993. He later became parliamentary secretary to Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit then a minister in her cabinet and finally speaker of the legislative assembly before being elevated to the centre.
Political experts believe that the elevation of Maken is a move at balancing factional dynamics in Delhi where Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been on an upswing. After moving to centre, Maken has broken ranks with Dikshit.
In 2004, Maken became member of parliament from New Delhi for the first time defeating the redoubtable Jagmohan of BJP, who had held the seat for two terms. He retained the seat in 2009 defeating another BJP veteran Vijay Goel.
Talking to reporters after the news, Maken said, ‘This will be the first time that government would have young cabinet ministers. I thank Manmohanji and Sonia Gandhiji. I would like to thank Rahul Gandhiji also, as he motivated young people like me to join the government.’ Maken hails from a political family. His uncle Lalit Maken was member of parliament from south Delhi and was also a popular trade union leader. He was assassinated by terrorists in 1985.
Asked about his comeback in Delhi by way of the housing ministerand urban poverty alleviation minister, Maken said, ‘I will do a lot of things for the national capital as both my portfolios will help Delhi government to eradicate these problems from the city.’ Maken is married to Radhika and has three children, Aarushi, Ahana and Aujaswi.
Maken has been rewarded for damage control in the sports ministry, which came in for lot of controversy during the organisation of the Commonwealth Games in 2010. As soon as the news of his elevation arrived, his supporters celebrated outside his Pandit Pant Marg residence with drums and crackers.
Maken began his political career as president of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) in 1985 and was elected member for the first time of Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1993. He later became parliamentary secretary to Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit then a minister in her cabinet and finally speaker of the legislative assembly before being elevated to the centre.
Political experts believe that the elevation of Maken is a move at balancing factional dynamics in Delhi where Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been on an upswing. After moving to centre, Maken has broken ranks with Dikshit.
In 2004, Maken became member of parliament from New Delhi for the first time defeating the redoubtable Jagmohan of BJP, who had held the seat for two terms. He retained the seat in 2009 defeating another BJP veteran Vijay Goel.
Talking to reporters after the news, Maken said, ‘This will be the first time that government would have young cabinet ministers. I thank Manmohanji and Sonia Gandhiji. I would like to thank Rahul Gandhiji also, as he motivated young people like me to join the government.’ Maken hails from a political family. His uncle Lalit Maken was member of parliament from south Delhi and was also a popular trade union leader. He was assassinated by terrorists in 1985.
Asked about his comeback in Delhi by way of the housing ministerand urban poverty alleviation minister, Maken said, ‘I will do a lot of things for the national capital as both my portfolios will help Delhi government to eradicate these problems from the city.’ Maken is married to Radhika and has three children, Aarushi, Ahana and Aujaswi.
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