AAP leader Abhinandita Mathur quits party, cites months of inactivity
Synopsis
Another crack in AAP's organisational fabric: Abhinandita Mathur, Cultural Advisor to the jailed Manish Sisodia, has quietly exited the party — weeks after national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar walked out and joined Congress, publicly warning that the leadership 'won't stop until they've completely ruined the party.'
Key Takeaways
Abhinandita Dayal Mathur , Cultural Advisor to former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia , announced her exit from AAP on 14 October 2026 .
Mathur said she had been inactive for several months and held no official party position before her public announcement.
She posted her resignation on social media platform X after being contacted by media organisations.
Former AAP national chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar , a party member since 2013 , had recently quit and joined Congress .
Kakkar publicly attacked former Delhi CM Atishi on X after her exit, warning that the leadership was 'ruining the party.'
Abhinandita Dayal Mathur, who served as Cultural Advisor to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, announced her resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on 14 October 2026, clarifying that she had already been inactive for several months and held no official position in the party. Her departure adds to a growing list of exits that have dented the once-dominant Delhi outfit.
What Mathur Said
Posting on social media platform X, Mathur said she felt compelled to go public after media organisations contacted her seeking her response on her party association. 'With mixed feelings, I would like to share that I am no longer part of the Aam Aadmi Party,' she stated.
She expressed gratitude for her time in the party, saying: 'I will always remain grateful for the opportunities I was given, the wonderful people I met, and the friendships I made along the way.' Mathur also acknowledged the lessons drawn from her political experience: 'I learnt a great deal from the party's leadership and its selfless volunteers. I also learnt just how difficult and demanding politics can be.'
A Pattern of Departures
Mathur's exit comes amid a wave of senior-level resignations from AAP. Most recently, former AAP national chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar — who joined the party in 2013 and spent over a decade as one of its most recognisable public faces — ended her association with the party and joined the Indian National Congress (Congress). Kakkar had been a prominent voice at press conferences and television debates.
Kakkar cited a desire to work towards building 'a green, clean, progressive and safe Delhi' as her reason for the move. Following her exit, she launched a public attack on former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi in a post on X in early October, writing: 'They won't stop until they've completely ruined the party. I guarantee that.'
Why It Matters
This is the latest in a series of high-profile exits from AAP, a party that once attracted civic professionals and activists drawn by its anti-corruption platform. The departures signal deepening internal discontent at a time when the party is already navigating the political fallout from the Manish Sisodia case and a weakened electoral standing in Delhi. Notably, Mathur's role as Cultural Advisor placed her within Sisodia's direct orbit, making her exit symbolically significant beyond its organisational impact.
What Happens Next
Neither AAP nor any senior party official had issued a formal response to Mathur's announcement at the time of reporting. With the party already under scrutiny over internal cohesion, further departures in the coming weeks cannot be ruled out, according to political observers.
Point of View
It suggests the party's civic brand has eroded faster than its electoral messaging acknowledges. The Kakkar exit is even more telling: a decade-long loyalist and national spokesperson joining a rival party and issuing a public warning is not a routine churn — it is a credibility event. AAP's leadership has yet to offer a substantive public response to either exit, which itself signals a communication vacuum at the top.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abhinandita Mathur and why did she leave AAP?
Abhinandita Dayal Mathur served as Cultural Advisor to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. She announced her departure from AAP on 14 October 2026, stating she had already been inactive for several months and held no official party position, and clarified her status publicly after media enquiries.
What did Abhinandita Mathur say about her time in AAP?
Mathur expressed gratitude for her experience, saying she was thankful for the opportunities, people, and friendships she encountered. She also acknowledged that politics was 'difficult and demanding,' and said she looks back on her time with AAP 'with gratitude and respect.'
Who else has recently left AAP?
Former AAP national chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar, who joined the party in 2013, recently quit and joined the Indian National Congress. After her exit, Kakkar publicly criticised former Delhi CM Atishi on X, warning that the leadership would 'completely ruin the party.'
Why is this resignation significant for AAP?
Mathur's exit is part of a wider pattern of senior-level departures from AAP at a time when the party is under pressure following the Manish Sisodia case and a challenging electoral environment in Delhi. The departures suggest growing internal discontent within the party's organisational ranks.
Has AAP responded to Mathur's resignation?
AAP had not issued a formal response to Mathur's announcement at the time of reporting. No senior party leader had publicly commented on her departure.
