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Updated October 12th, 2019 at 14:53 IST

After long 'will she, won't she', Alka Lamba finally joins Congress

Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Alka Lamba, on Saturday formally joined the party at its New Delhi headquarters in the presence of several senior leaders

Alka Lamba
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While she has been meeting Congress leaders and hinting at her formal inclusion into the grand old party for a month now, former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Alka Lamba, on Saturday formally joined the party at its New Delhi headquarters. Earlier on Friday she met with Congress interim-chief Sonia Gandhi and announced her official joining. Later, she tweeted a photo of her joining event at 24 Akbar Road. She joined the party in the presence of senior Congress leaders PC Chacko, Mohd. Usman and others.

Alka Lamba joins Congress

Alka Lamba hints at joining Congress

Earlier on September 5, she officially quit the AAP, days after she met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, fuelling speculation that she would join the Congress party soon. The AAP MLA from Chandni Chowk had last month announced that she had made up her mind about leaving the party and contesting the upcoming Assembly election as an Independent candidate. After her quitting AAP, she was disqualified by Delhi Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on September 19  under the anti-defection law. The move came after AAP legislator Saurabh Bharadwaj filed a petition, and said that Alka Lamba has joined the Congress party after quitting AAP.

READ | Rebel AAP MLA Alka Lamba disqualified from Delhi assembly

Alka Lamba quits AAP

Previously on September 3, she met with Sonia Gandhi stating that the Congress chief is not only the UPA chairperson, she is also the biggest politician believing in secular ideology.  This fuelled rumours of her joining Congress. She had announced her decision to quit AAP's primary membership but will continue to be an MLA of the Assembly on  August 4. It was later accepted by AAP.  The Chandni Chowk MLA, who has been at odds with the party leadership for some time, said she took the decision after consulting the people of her constituency through a Jan Sabha.

Read | Can seek disqualification of other rebel MLAs too: Aam Aadmi Party

Lamba and Kejriwal rift

Meanwhile, Lamba had stated that she had been disrespected by the party on several occasions. After the Aam Aadmi Party's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, she had sought accountability from party chief Arvind Kejriwal. In response, she was removed from the official WhatsApp group of its lawmakers. Lamba also refused to campaign for the party in the Lok Sabha polls and even refrained from participating in Kejriwal's roadshow.

READ | AAP MLA Alka Lamba seeks accountability from Arvind Kejriwal in 2019 Lok Sabha polls

Delhi Assembly polls

Delhi is set to go to polls on February 2020. While the BJP has won all seven Lok Sabha seats in May 2019, it holds only four seats in the 70-seat Delhi Assembly. AAP while being whitewashed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, holds a strong majority of 62 seats in the Assembly. BJP aims to win at least 60 seats in the next Assembly elections.

READ | Alka Lamba stands by her Rafale remark, says BJP 'imposing' religion

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Published October 12th, 2019 at 14:40 IST

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