"Isn't change of heart" says Priyanka Chaturvedi as she flips from Congress to Shiv Sena

This comes a day after Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her unhappiness over the party's decision to take back some of its old timers who were expelled for misbehaving with her.

Mumbai: Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray (L) and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray (R) welcome Priyanka Cahturvedi into the party by tying 'Shiv Bandhan', at Matoshri in Mumbai, Friday, April 19, 2019. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai: The Congress suffered a major setback on Friday with one of its staunch spokespersons, Priyanka Chaturvedi, quitting the party. Hours after she tendered her resignation letter to the party president Rahul Gandhi, Chaturvedi formally joined the Shiv Sena in presence of its chief Uddhav Thackeray. Chaturvedi has been highly critical of the Shiv Sena and its ally BJP during her years in the Congress and acknowledged the fact that her "Twitter account won't be spared." Addressing a press conference Chaturvedi said " I know I will be held accountable for my past statements and my views and that how I came to this conclusion but I would like to say that this decision of joining Shiv Sena I have taken after a lot of thought." Chaturvedi said she was hopeful of getting a Lok Sabha ticket but that wasn't the reason to quit the Congress. "My ancestors are from Mathura but I never sought a ticket from there. There is no change of heart, I come from Mumbai and always had a connect with Shiv Sena. I believe each and every person from Maharashtra would also have some connect with the Sena. I am joining the party with the sole intention of serving the people and not with a motive of getting an election ticket," she said attempting to dismiss questions on flipping the switch. Thackeray said Chaturvedi will strengthen the party not just in Mumbai. but other parts of the country as well. "Shiv Sena workers have got a "good sister" in Chaturvedi," he said. Earlier, she changed her bio on the microblogging site, Twitter, from 'Congress party spokesperson' to 'Columnist. Blogger. Saree Hoarder. Mother.' This comes a day after she expressed her unhappiness over the party's decision to take back some of its old timers who were expelled for misbehaving with her in Mathura a few days ago. The action of revoking the suspension, party leaders claimed, was taken on the recommendations of Congress general secretary for West Uttar Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia. In her resignation letter to Rahul Gandhi, she wrote: "misbehaviour against me  by certain party members has been ignored under the guise of all hands needed for elections...this indignity is the final factor to convince me to move on & focus on other things outside INC."

I am absolutely overwhelmed and grateful with the love and support I have got across board from the nation in the past 3 days. I consider myself blessed with this immense outpouring of support. Thank you to all who have been a part of this journey. pic.twitter.com/WhUYYlwHLj

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) April 19, 2019

Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday hit out at the party for reinstating members who had been suspended recently for misbehaving with her at a press conference in Mathura recently, saying that "those who threatened her within the party got away with not even a rap". She took to Twitter to make her resentment for her own party public. “Deeply saddened that lumpen goons get preference in @incindia over those who have given their sweat and blood. Having faced brickbats and abuse across the board for the party but yet those who threatened me within the party getting away with not even a rap on their knuckles is unfortunate," read the tweet she posted on Wednesday.

Deeply saddened that lumpen goons get prefence in @incindia over those who have given their sweat&blood. Having faced brickbats&abuse across board for the party but yet those who threatened me within the party getting away with not even a rap on their knuckles is unfortunate. https://t.co/CrVo1NAvz2

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) April 17, 2019

Her remarks came after a Twitter user named Vijay Laxmi Sharma posted that the Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit had suspended some of its leaders for their unruly behaviour with Chaturvedi in Mathura and then reinstated them after few days.

What Priyanka Chaturvedi had to go through is exactly what I went through in 2017! At that time she was at forefront of attacking me! Glad she has realised her folly! Best wishes to her for her new political journey :)

— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) April 19, 2019

Last week, Chaturvedi had spoofed the title song of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and sang it in a news conference to highlight Union minister Smriti Irani's affidavit declaration that she wasn't a graduate. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah described Priyanka an asset to the Congress party and rued the fact that she won't be defending the party on television screens anymore. "It’s a pity @priyankac19 will not be seen defending the Congress on our TV screens any longer. She was an asset to the party & a fearless advocate for the party & its leadership,"he tweeted. "To have lost her to selfish personal interests would have been no loss but to lose her because she felt her party didn’t stand up for her is all the more unfortunate. All the best going ahead Priyanka @priyankac19,"Abdullah's accompanying tweet read.