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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Alka Lamba
| image = Alka-Lamba1.jpg
| caption = Lamba in March 2021
| office1 = President of [[National Students' Union of India]]
| term_start1 = 1997
| term_end1 = 1999
| predecessor1 = [[Saleem Ahmed]]
| successor1 = [[Meenakshi Natarajan]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|21 September 1975|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| occupation = Politician
| party = [[Indian National Congress]] (6 September 2019 till present)
| otherparty = [[Aam Aadmi Party]] (December 2014 to September 2019)
| office = Member of [[Delhi Legislative Assembly]]
| termstart = February 2015
| termend = 19 September 2019
| constituency = [[Chandni Chowk (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chandni Chowk]]
| successor = [[Parlad Singh Sawhney]]
| predecessor = [[Parlad Singh Sawhney]]
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = [[Arvind Kejriwal]]
}}

'''Alka Lamba''' (born 21 September 1975) is an Indian politician.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/pioneer-exclusive/chandni-chowk-redevelopment-plan-draws-conflicting-views.html|title=Chandni Chowk redevelopment plan draws conflicting views|website=The Pioneer}}</ref> After serving the [[Indian National Congress]] in various capacities for more than 20 years, she quit to join the [[Aam Aadmi Party]] on 26 December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/alka-lamba-former-student-leader-quits-congress-to-join-aap-463479|title=Alka Lamba, former student leader, quits Congress to join AAP|publisher=}}</ref> In February 2015, Lamba was [[2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|elected]] to the [[Delhi Legislative Assembly]] from [[Chandni Chowk (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Chandni Chowk]]. She quit AAP in September 2019 citing disrespect for her within the party. On 6 September 2019, she formally returned to the Congress party.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2020-09-20|title=Alka Lamba returns to Congress fold: Leaving 'Khas Aadmi Party'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/alka-lamba-returns-congress-leaving-khas-aadmi-party-delhi-aap-5974060/|date=7 September 2019|publisher=Express News Service|via=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> She was however disqualified from the Delhi assembly by Delhi speaker for violating the rules for party change over in a gesture of strong warning to tainted turncoats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/delhi-speaker-disqualifies-alka-lamba-from-the-legislative-assembly20190919190828/|title=Delhi Speaker disqualifies Alka Lamba from the legislative assembly|website=www.aninews.in|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}</ref>

Lamba began her career as a student leader, and is former President of [[Delhi University Students' Union]], former National President of [[National Students' Union of India]], former General Secretary of [[Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee]] and former Secretary of [[All India Congress Committee]]. She is Chairperson of the [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] Go India Foundation.<ref name=triblocal >{{cite web |title=Indian national overseas congress pays tribute to Alka Lamba senior leader, India congress committee |url=http://www.triblocal.com/niles/community/stories/2011/11/indian-national-overseas-congress-pays-tribute-to-alka-lamba-senior-leader-india-congress-committee/index.html |publisher=triblocal.com |date=9 November 2011 |accessdate=30 September 2013}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110411172023/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-11-19/delhi/27201429_1_alka-lamba-madan-lal-khurana-dusu-president Alka Lamba: Youth on her side]. ''The Times of India''. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2013.</ref>

== Early life ==
Alka Lamba was born in [[New Delhi]], [[India]] to Amar Nath Lamba, an [[Indian Army]] Civilian Engineer and Raj Kumari Lamba, a homemaker. She is one of six siblings.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-11|title=Alka Lamba Wiki, Bio, Age, Career and Personal Life|url=https://www.samvadplus.com/people/alka-lamba/|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Samvad Plus|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Education ==
Lamba completed her schooling at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School No.1, Delhi. Later she obtained her BSc degree from [[Dyal Singh College, Delhi|Dyal Singh College]], Delhi ([[Delhi University]]) in 1996. Subsequently, she pursued her master's degree in Chemistry and Education from the [[Bundelkhand University]], Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Know Your Delhi Leader: Alka Lamba|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/know-your-delhi-leader-alka-lamba-2177051|access-date=2021-07-21|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Lamba married Lokesh Kapoor but the marriage did not last. They are currently divorced. They have a son named Hrithik Lamba.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 18, 2003|title=Lamba's spouse wants son's custody, flat {{!}} Delhi News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/lambas-spouse-wants-sons-custody-flat/articleshow/288574.cms|access-date=2021-07-23|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==Political career==
Lamba was only 19 years old when she began her political career in 1994 as a second year B.Sc. student. She joined the National Students' Union of India ([[NSUI]]), the student wing of the [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]] and was promptly given the responsibility of being Delhi State Girl Convener. After one year in 1995, she contested the [[Delhi University Students' Union]] (DUSU) election for the post of President and won by a huge margin. In 1996, she worked as All India Girl Convener for NSUI, and in 1997 she was appointed as the President of all India (NSUI).<ref name=GIF >{{cite web |title=Go India Foundation – Our Chairperson: Alka Lamba |url= http://www.goindiafoundation.com/about-us/our-chairperson-alka-lamba/ |publisher=Go India Foundation |year=2012 |accessdate=1 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=InToday >{{cite web |title=The valuable PM : COLUMN: OFF THE RECORD, News – India Today |url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/The+valuable+PM/1/19350.html |work=[[India Today]] |date=4 November 2008 |accessdate=2 October 2013}}</ref>

In 2002, she was appointed as the General Secretary of [[All India Mahila Congress]]. In 2003, she unsuccessfully contested Delhi Assembly elections from [[Moti Nagar metro station|Moti Nagar]] Constituency against the senior BJP leader [[Madan Lal Khurana]]. In 2006 she became a member of [[All India Congress Committee]] (AICC) and was appointed as General Secretary of [[Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee]] (DPCC). At the same time she was also appointed as Vice Chairperson of [[National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development]] (NIPCCD), an autonomous body of [[Ministry of Women and Child Development]], [[Government of India]].<ref name=GIF /> She was a Secretary [[All India Congress Committee]] (AICC) at the [[Indian National Congress]] from 2007 to 2011.<ref name=IE >{{cite web |title=It's youth Congress: Rahul is AICC general secretary – Indian Express Mobile |url= http://m.indianexpress.com/news/it-s-youth-congress-rahul-is-aicc-general-secretary/220752/ |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=25 September 2007 |accessdate=1 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=FE >{{cite web |title=Moily dropped in AICC rejig – Financial Express Mobile |url= http://m.financialexpress.com/news/moily-dropped-in-aicc-rejig/757998/ |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |date=5 March 2011 |accessdate=1 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=IYC>{{cite web |title=Indian Youth Congress: Alka Lamba |url=http://iyc.in/sns/pg/groups/72668/alka-lamba/ |publisher=[[Indian Youth Congress]] |year=2012 |accessdate=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811031824/http://iyc.in/sns/pg/groups/72668/alka-lamba |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She left Indian National Congress in December 2014 to join [[Aam Aadmi Party]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Congress Leader Alka Lamba to join AAP on December 29. She contested from the chandni chowk seat and won in 2014 Delhi Legislative election. |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/12/congress-leader-alka-lamba-to-join-aap-on-december-29/|work=Biharprabha News|accessdate=27 December 2013}}</ref> In February 2015, Lamba contested in [[2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|Delhi Legislative Assembly election]] from [[Chandni Chowk (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Chandni Chowk constituency]] on Aam Aadmi Party's ticket. She defeated her nearest rival, Suman Kumar Gupta of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], by a margin of 18,287 votes.<ref name=MLA >{{cite web |title=Arvind Kejriwal defeats BJP's Nupur Sharma by over 31,000 votes |url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/tpUv0v9pWZzsWjNV1RyVhL/Delhi-election-results-Arvind-Kejriwal-wins-Kiran-Bedi-los.html |publisher=[[Livemint]] |date=10 February 2015 |accessdate=10 February 2015}}</ref>

In September 2019, she quit the [[Aam Aadmi Party]] and rejoined the [[Indian National Congress]] party as she was disenchanted for quite some time with the AAP leadership. Lamba had openly disagreed with the AAP leadership regarding the passing of a resolution in December 2018 to revoke former prime minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]]'s [[Bharat Ratna]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alka Lamba Quits AAP For Congress With Parting Shot At Arvind Kejriwal|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/alka-lamba-quits-aap-amid-feud-with-leadership-says-time-to-say-goodbye-2096488|access-date=2021-07-18|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

Lamba has visited the UK, Russia, the US, China, and Venezuela to attend seminars and give speeches about [[Empowerment|women's empowerment]], human rights and sustainable development in [[third world]] nations. In 2005, she visited Venezuela to attend the [[World Festival of Youth and Students]]. In 2006, she visited the US to attend a conference on international women's leadership programs. In 2007 and 2008, she visited London to attend the UN's [[International Widows Day]] and tourism and cultural festival. In 2008–2009, Lamba visited Nepal to attend a seminar on disaster management programs. In 2010, Lamba travelled across Brunei, Singapore, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Maldives with the [[2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games]] [[Queen's Baton Relay]].<ref name=GIF /><ref name=IYC />

==Controversies==
In August 2015, a few months after she had been elected [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] for the [[Chandni Chowk]] constituency, Lamba was charged with vandalism and destruction of property in an incident which occurred within her own constituency. On 10 August 2015, a mob armed with ''lathis'', swagger sticks and cricket bats attacked and badly vandalized a liquor shop located in the [[Kashmiri Gate, Delhi|Kashmere Gate]] area of old Delhi. CCTV footage recorded shows Lamba leading the attack and vandalising the shop along with her supporters.<ref name="zeenews.india.com">{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/new-twist-in-alka-lamba-issue-cctv-footage-shows-aap-mla-vandalised-shop-with-supporters_1644516.html|title=New twist in Alka Lamba issue: CCTV footage shows AAP MLA vandalised shop with supporters|date=9 August 2015|publisher=}}</ref> The footage shows her reaching straight for the shop counter and violently pushing and spilling and throwing away the items on the counter. Following this, her supporters also vandalised the shop.<ref name="zeenews.india.com"/> According to reports, this happened because the shopkeeper was a BJP supporter and had objected to the AAP defacing his shop windows with posters eulogising Lamba and her party.

Representing [[National Commission for Women]] on 16 July 2012, as one of the member of the enquiry team of [[2012 Guwahati molestation case]], Lamba met the victim of a Guwahati molestation case, held a press-conference and revealed the victim's identity. The 'tip-off' made local media houses work overtime to find the victim's real identity. Some TV channels interviewed the victim's neighbours to come to the conclusion that the girl's name was not what she was forced to say by the channel that recorded her molestation and near-stripping. Such acts of Lamba's were widely criticised. Following this, she was removed from the fact-finding committee of NCW.<ref name="OneIndia">{{cite web|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2012/07/17/who-is-alka-lamba-cong-leader-ncw-guwahati-molestation-1037036.html|title=Alka Lamba hogs limelight from Guwahati molestation case – News Oneindia|date=18 July 2012|publisher=[[Oneindia.in]]|accessdate=3 October 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/guwahati-molestation-case-alka-lamba-national-commission-for-women-member-who-named-victim-is-sacked-244007 Guwahati molestation case: Chief Minister's office accidentally names victim, then retracts]. NDTV.com (17 July 2012). Retrieved 20 April 2013.</ref>

==Social work==
A non-governmental organisation named Go India Foundation ran by Alka Lamba got attention in 2010 during its blood donation campaigning. Significantly, over 65000 people donated blood in one day.<ref name=OneIndia /> The campaign was promoted by [[Salman Khan]].<ref name=Salman >{{cite web |title=Salman Khan extends support to blood donation camp – Indian Express |url=http://m.indianexpress.com/news/salman-khan-extends-support-to-blood-donation-camp/659710/ |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=13 August 2010 |accessdate=3 October 2013}}</ref>

==Elections contested==

===[[Delhi Legislative Assembly]]===
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!width=50|Year
!width=150|Constituency
!width=70|Party
!width=70|Result
!width=70|Vote percentage
!width=150|Opposition Candidate
!width=70|Opposition Party
!width=70|Opposition vote percentage
!width=25|Ref
|-
|[[2003 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2003]]|| [[Moti Nagar (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Moti Nagar]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] ||{{Lost}}|| 36.20% || [[Madan Lal Khurana]] ||[[Bhartiya Janata Party|BJP]]|| 61.35% ||
|-
|[[2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2015]]|| [[Chandni Chowk (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Chandni Chowk]] || [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]] ||{{Won}}|| 49.35% || Suman Kumar Gupta ||[[Bhartiya Janata Party|BJP]]|| 24.79% ||
|-
|[[2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2020]]|| [[Chandni Chowk (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Chandni Chowk]] || [[Indian National Congress|INC]] ||{{Lost}}|| 5.03% || [[Parlad Singh Sawhney]] ||[[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]]|| 65.92% ||
|}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lamba, Alka}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Presidents of Delhi University Students Union]]
[[Category:Women members of the Delhi Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Delhi MLAs 2015–2020]]
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party MLAs from Delhi]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Delhi]]
[[Category:University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:People from New Delhi]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Trade unionists from Delhi]]
[[Category:Indian women trade unionists]]
[[Category:Bundelkhand University alumni]]

Alka Lamba - Revision history

CleanupBot at 15:58, 1 June 2023