New Delhi, August 29: Congress General Secretary and Delhi in-charge PC Chacko has asked the party to relieve him from his duties. The development is seen as a setback for the Congress party ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections due early next year. The grand old party has not yet responded to PC Chacko's request. Notably, Chacko had attended a meeting chaired by Congress's interim president Sonia Gandhi two days ago. Infighting Escalates in Delhi Congress, 29 Leaders Write to Rahul About 'Complete Confusion' in DPCC.

After the meeting, Chacko had said that Sonia Gandhi entrusted him with the responsibility of taking feedback from former Delhi Congress presidents, MPs and senior functionaries to decide a new chief for Congress's Delhi unit. "Sonia Ji may call me again in 3-4 days to discuss the names of potential candidates. I expect the next Delhi Congress chief to be announced soon," he was quoted as saying. Navjot Singh Sidhu to be Delhi Congress President? Party Dismisses Reports.

The Delhi Congress's president's post has been lying vacant after the demise of Sheila Dikshit last month. After Sonia took over as the interim president earlier this month, a delegation of Delhi leaders met her to discuss the names of potential candidates. Reacting to speculation that an outsider, including Navjot Singh Sidhu and Shatrughan Sinha, may take over the reins, Chacko on Tuesday said the party chief will be from Delhi.

"Several names are doing the rounds for the Delhi president's post. The three working presidents — Rajesh Lilothia, Haroon Yusuf and Devender Yadav — are there. Also, seniors like former presidents of the Delhi Congress like JP Agarwal and Subhash Chopra could be made president," a Congress leader told News18.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2019 04:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).