Time for goodbye: Alka Lamba quits AAP after bitter feud
What's the story
After a long-standing feud with the top brass of Aam Aadmi Party, Alka Lamba announced on Friday that she is quitting the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
Taking to Twitter, she said it was "time to say goodbye" and added the past six years were a learning experience.
It is speculated she might return to Congress, the party with which started her political career in 1994.
Career
Lamba joined AAP in 2013, was elected from Chandni Chowk
To recall, Lamba had joined AAP in 2013 and subsequently won from Chandni Chowk constituency.
She had been at loggerheads with AAP for months now. Her first conflict with the party started after a resolution was passed in Delhi Assembly to revoke the Bharat Ratna bestowed on late PM Rajiv Gandhi.
Opposing the move, Lamba had said she was ready to face the consequences.
Quote
Lamba said she didn't agree with party's stand
"Today, there was a proposal in the Assembly to seek withdrawal of Bharat Ratna award to former PM Rajiv Gandhi. In my speech in the House, I was asked to support this motion. I did not agree and staged a walkout of House," she said.
What happened
In May, Lamba wanted accountability from Kejriwal after election debacle
Her latest skirmish with AAP came after the party's poor performance in the summer elections. Lamba had, apparently, sought accountability from Kejriwal.
Following this, she was removed from AAP's WhatsApp group, and she announced on Twitter she would end her association with the party in 2020.
However, in her tweet posted in May, Lamba didn't specify a date of her exit.
Campaigning
Told to walk behind Kejriwal, Lamba didn't attend his roadshow
In fact, she also refused to campaign for AAP before May elections. She was absent from Kejriwal's roadshow, after apparently being asked to walk behind the Chief Minister's car.
Then on August 4, Lamba announced that she would resign from AAP's primary membership to contest upcoming assembly polls as an independent candidate.
Subsequently, AAP said it would accept her resignation even on Twitter.
Quote
It takes 1-minute to send resignation, AAP spokesperson had said
"She has announced this a dozen of times in the past. It takes 1 min to send a written resignation letter to party leadership. We will accept it on Twitter too," AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj, had said in a tweet.
Announcement
As suggested by Bhardwaj, Lamba resigned via Twitter
Keeping up with Bhardwaj's suggestion, Lamba wrote on Twitter, "@ArvindKejriwal Ji, your spokespersons asked me as per your desire, with the full arrogance that the Party will accept My resignation even on the Twitter. So pls Kindly accept My resignation from the primary membership of the "Aam Aadmi Party", which is now a "Khas Aadmi Party"(sic)."
In another tweet, she thanked everyone.
Twitter Post
"Aam Aadmi Party is now Khas Aadmi Party"
@ArvindKejriwal Ji, your spokespersons asked me as per your desire, with the full arrogance that the Party will accept My resgination even on the Twitter.
— Alka Lamba - अलका लाम्बा (@LambaAlka) September 6, 2019
So pls Kindly accept My resgination from the primary membership of the
"Aam Aadmi Party", which is now a "Khas Aadmi Party".
Meeting
Earlier this week, Lamba met Sonia Gandhi
Putting an end to a long-winding battle, in which Lamba said she was "disrespected," she finally pulled the curtains on her AAP career.
This development came just a few days after she met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Lamba met Gandhi on Tuesday to discuss the current political scenario in the country.
Notably, she was the general secretary of All India Mahila Congress in 2002.