Days After Meeting Sonia Gandhi, Alka Lamba Quits AAP, Says 'Time To Say Goodbye'

Days after meeting Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, Chandni Chowk lawmaker Alka Lamba quit Aam Aadmi Party on Friday. Announcing her decision on Twitter, Lamba spoke about her ‘learning experience’. “The time has come to say "Good Bye" to #AAP and to resign from the primary membership of the Party. The past 6years journey was a great learning for me. Thanks to all. #ChandniChowk #MLA #AlkaLamba #Delhi #JaiHind (sic),” Lamba said on micro-blogging site.

It should be noted that on September 3, Lamba hand met Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi. The meeting added to speculations that the Chandni Chowk MLA is likely joining Congress ahead of Delhi Assembly Elections. Lamba has been at odds with the Aam Aadmi Party for some time. After the party's defeat in Lok Sabha polls, she had sought accountability from AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal following which she was removed from the official WhatsApp group of the party lawmakers.

The time has come to say
"Good Bye" to #AAP and to resign from the primary membership of the Party.
The past 6years journey was a great learning for me.

Thanks to all. 🙏🇮🇳. #JaiHind #ChandniChowk #MLA #AlkaLamba #Delhi

— Alka Lamba - अलका लाम्बा (@LambaAlka) September 6, 2019

Lamba had also refused to campaign for the party in the Lok Sabha polls and even refrained from participating in Kejriwal's roadshow after she was asked to walk behind his car during the event.

She had claimed that she was being ‘disrespected’ by the party on several occasion. "I am not called to meetings. I am insulted repeatedly. I spent 20 years in the Congress and even there I struggled with family politics but in the AAP, I do not get the basic respect," she claimed.

"I have made up my mind to quit the party and will make an official announcement on August 4 if I would contest independently or not," she said.

In April, Lamba engaged in a bitter Twitter spat with AAP's Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, who had taunted her to resign from the party.

Following the spat, Lamba addressed a large crowd outside Jama Masjid and said the party was repeatedly demanding her resignation. Alka Lamba won the Chandni Chowk assembly seat for the first time in 2013. Before joining Kejriwal, Lamba was part of the Congress women wing.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Alka Lamba has been at loggerheads with AAP leadership for quite sometime now.
• Lamba had even refused to campaign for AAP in the Lok Sabha polls.
• She had claimed she was being ‘disrespected’ by AAP on many occasion.