Priyanka Chaturvedi, who quit the Congress, joined the Shiv Sena on Friday.
Addressing a press confrence with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Chaturvedi said she had left the Congress after "feeling let down" with the way she had been treated within the party.
"I kept speaking in a 'bindaas' (fearless) way despite being abused and trolled constantly," she said. "I was pained when some party workers made comments about me. After being suspended, they were reinstated," she added.
Chaturvedi said the statements made against her were ignored by the party (Congress), despite speaking for 10 years at a "great personal cost" and without joining politics formally.
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"I was very let down. I thought If I didn't fight for my self respect, I would fail women. I have joined the Sena after a lot of thinking, and understanding my responsibility towards the cause of women," she said.
She denied that she quit the Congress after being refused Lok Sabha ticket.
Welcoming her in the party fold, Thackeray said Shiv Sena workers have got a "good sister" in Chaturvedi.
Earlier during the day, Chaturvedi, who was miffed at the reinstatement of some Congress workers who had misbehaved with her, sent her resignation to the party's top brass.
"In the last few weeks certain things have convinced me that my services are not valued in the organisation and that I have reached the end of the road. At the same time I also feel that more time that I spend in the organisation will be at the cost of my own self respect and dignity," Chaturvedi said in her resignation letter.
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On Wednesday, Chaturvedi said it is unfortunate and saddening that those who threatened her have got away without even "a rap on their knuckles".
"Deeply saddened that lumpen goons get preference in Congress over those who have given their sweat and blood.
"Having faced brickbats and 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," she had said in a tweet.
The Uttar Pradesh Congress had suspended some workers for misbehaving with Chaturvedi during a press conference in Mathura a few days ago.
But, on Monday, the party issued a communication in which it rescinded all actions taken earlier against such workers who "misbehaved" with Chaturvedi.
The action of rescinding the suspension, party leaders had claimed, was taken on the recommendations of Congress general secretary for West Uttar Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Chaturvedi has been trending on social media for her "Kyunki Mantri Bhi Kabhi Graduate Thi" jibe at Union minister Smriti Irani, who is contesting from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh against Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
(With inputs from PTI)
"I kept speaking in a 'bindaas' (fearless) way despitebeing abused and trolled constantly," she said. "I was painedwhen some party workers made comments about me. After beingsuspended, they were reinstated," she added.
Chaturvedi said the statements made against her wereignored by the party (Congress), despite speaking for 10 yearsat a "great personal cost" and without joining politicsformally.
"I was very let down. I thought If I didn't fight formy self respect, I would fail women. I have joined the Senaafter a lot of thinking, and understanding my responsibilitytowards the cause of women," she said.
