Randeep Singh Surjewala, the Congress communications chief, on Friday said that Priyanka Chaturvedi’s exit from the party was a “reflection” on his “leadership”.

Addressing the media in New Delhi hours after the former party spokesperson joined the Shiv Sena, Surjewala said that it is a matter of pain each time any member leaves the part fold.

“Every time a party member leaves, it’s a matter of pain for us. People look for career progression. We wish all of them well, including Priyanka Chaturvedi. I must frankly and on record concede, yes, it’s a reflection on my leadership,” he said.

Earlier today, Chaturvedi joined the Shiv Sena after resigning from the Congress claiming that she felt disappointed with the grand old party reinstating party workers who had allegedly misbehaved with her.

After joining Shiv Sena in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree, Chaturvedi told the media that her decision to join the party was influenced by her belief that “there is no party better than this where I can raise voices for women and the issues that matter to this city”.

Read More: Priyanka Chaturvedi joins Shiv Sena ‘without expectations’ after resigning from Congress

“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,” she said.

Chaturvedi tendered her resignation to party chief Rahul Gandhi. She shared the letter on Twitter on Friday and also removed herself from the AICC media group on WhatsApp besides removing any reference to Congress on her Twitter bio.

In her letter Chaturvedi drew attention to the reinstatement of the Congress leaders, which she had objected to in a tweet on Thursday.

“Despite the safety, dignity, empowerment of women being promoted by the party and has been your call to action the same is not reflected in the action of some of the members of the party,” she wrote in the letter.

“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. I also feel that more time I spend in the organisation will be at the cost of my own self respect and dignity,” the letter read.

In a tweet posted on Thursday, Chaturvedi had slammed her own party for reinstating “lumpen goons” who had allegedly misbehaved with her in Mathura. The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) had suspended the workers on Chaturvedi’s complaint.