A record in public service
Shri Ajay Maken has served in Parliament and the Delhi Legislative Assembly. His ministerial work spans urban development, home affairs, youth affairs and sports, and housing.
Source: Rajya Sabha member profile, read 10 October 2026.
- 1993 to 2004
Delhi Legislative Assembly
He served three terms as a member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. He held the Power, Transport and Tourism portfolios from 2001 to 2003, and served as Speaker from 2003 to 2004.
- 2004 to 2014
Two terms in the Lok Sabha
He served in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Lok Sabha. He was Union Minister of State for Urban Development from 2006 to 2009, followed by Home Affairs from 2009 to January 2011.
- 2011 to 2012
Youth Affairs and Sports
He served as Union Minister of State with independent charge of Youth Affairs and Sports, from January 2011 to October 2012.
- 2012 to 2013
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
He served as Union Cabinet Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation from October 2012 to June 2013.
- April 2024 onwards
Rajya Sabha
He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in April 2024, as a member of the Indian National Congress.
Source: Rajya Sabha member profile and sitting-member directory, read 10 October 2026.
Policy work in government
Support for the CNG bus transition
As Delhi Transport Minister, he supported moving Delhi’s buses from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG). In April 2002, he called for implementing the court order and phasing out diesel buses.
Source: Ajay Maken, A step forward, 16 April 2002; CSE, The Leapfrog Factor, 2006, page 32.
Privatising Delhi's power distribution
As Delhi's Power Minister, he oversaw the privatisation of electricity distribution in Delhi. The Delhi Vidyut Board's aggregate technical and commercial losses, which count power lost to theft and faults together with bills never collected, were about 55 per cent in 2002. He said the Board lost Rs 1,200 crore a year to theft and had run up losses of Rs 22,000 crore. On 1 July 2002 the Board was split into six companies, and the running of distribution passed to three companies, two run by BSES and one by Tata Power, in which the private partner held 51 per cent. The Delhi Government's power department now puts those losses at about 13 per cent.
Sources: Delhi Government, Power Department, About us, read 11 October 2026; The Tribune, 26 February 2002; The Tribune, 5 June 2002.
The Delhi Metro
As Delhi's Transport Minister, he supervised the work that sped up the Delhi Metro. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated its first line on 24 December 2002, with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on the first run, and the line opened to the public the next day.
Sources: Business Standard, Who is Ajay Maken, read 11 October 2026; The Tribune, 25 December 2002.
Cleaner public transport
As Delhi Transport Minister, he addressed an alternative-fuel vehicle workshop in January 2003. He said Delhi was considering more electric vehicles in public transport.
Source: US Department of Energy, Alternative Fuel News, March 2003, page 5.
Accountability in sports administration
As Sports Minister, he presented a draft National Sports Development Bill that proposed athlete representation and greater transparency in sports bodies.
Housing regulation and street vendors
As Housing Minister, he discussed proposals to regulate real estate and the ministry’s work on the Street Vendors Bill, which sought to protect livelihood rights.
Why this website
These briefs examine economic policy through official data. The findings are published alongside their sources, so readers can check the figures and form their own view.
Explore the policy briefs