Veteran Sheila Dikshit's comeback is no surprise in Delhi

Sheila Dikshit's immense popularity in Delhi has brought her back into active politics almost six years after she took a hiatus. The Congress appointed her as Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President after Ajay Maken stepped down over "serious health issues".

The party has timed the appointment of the 80-year old veteran craftily, a few months short of the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress is also eying Delhi Assembly elections, another primary reason to bring its most popular face in the city at the helm of affairs. Sources say that her popularity and credibility have catapulted her back to the top post as the Congress has kept the big picture of these two key polls in mind, not to mention her proximity with the Gandhi family. "There were other names too like Devender Yadav, Rajkumar Chauhan in the reckoning but none to match Dikshit's influence on Delhi," sources said. Yadav and Chauhan along with Haroon Yusuf will be three working presidents in view of Dikshit's health and age.

The three-time CM has also warmed up to the alliance between Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, reports of which are doing the rounds. She is the among the few senior politicians who are supporting the decision. In case the arrangement sails through, the seat share will be 2:7. Sources claim that Dikshit is keen to field her son Sandeep Dikshit on one of the two seats the party stakes claim at, in a bid to resurrect his failing political career. While Maken reportedly has health problems, his vehement opposition towards the new found friendship also paved way for Dikshit's elevation.