Ajay Maken has resigned as a Union minister ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle that is expected in the next few days.Mr Maken submitted his resignation as Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and has reportedly expressed his desire to work for the party.The 49-year-old leader was earlier Minister of State for Home Affairs and was later given independent charge of Sports and Youth Affairs.Mr Maken was elevated to the Cabinet rank in October last year.Congress sources said that he could either be made Delhi Congress chief or a party General Secretary.A senior Congress leader said he could even be made the Chief Minister of Delhi ahead of the assembly elections later this year.Mr Maken's possible elevation as Delhi Congress chief could lead to his indirect projection as the next Chief Minister of Delhi.Incumbent Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been at the helm of affairs for the past 15 years, setting a record of sorts in independent India where a woman has served has headed the state for three consecutive terms.Current Delhi Congress chief JP Aggarwal is not on the best of terms with Ms Dikshit.Mr Maken was a protege of Ms Dikshit at one point but the duo later fell apart.

Sometime back, there was talk of Ms Dikshit being made a minister at the Centre.