Why was Pawan Bansal removed as AICC treasurer?

New Delhi: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's close aide Ajay Maken has been appointed as the new party treasurer replacing Pawan Kumar Bansal.

Newsdrum had on September 6 reported that Maken is set to replace Bansal as the treasurer of All India Congress Committee (AICC).

NewsDrum #Breaking confirmed. AICC appoints Ajay Maken as Treasurer, replacing Pawan Kumar Bansal.#AjayMaken #Congress #AICC #mallikarjunkharge #RahulGandhi https://t.co/d8gWwJjuKC pic.twitter.com/LWVeIbQ5Ye

— NewsDrum (@thenewsdrum) October 1, 2023

Bansal had assumed the post after the demise of veteran leader Ahmed Patel on November 25, 2020. Senior leader Ambika Soni had strongly backed his name then. 

Prior to Patel, the post was held by Motilal Vora for a long time. 

It is said that Bansal fell out of favour of the party leadership following allegations of financial irregularities against him. The Congress leadership apparently had been apprised of it, eventually leading to his removal. 

The Congress leadership had taken a serious view of the allegations as the party was already grappling with its worst financial crisis.

After being ousted of power in 2014, the grand old party has been struggling to fill its coffers. 

In fact, several Congress candidates had admitted to a severe funds crunch during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well. 

The crisis is widely blamed on corporate houses moving away from the Congress.