Priyanka Kakkar Quits AAP, Joins Congress Along With Former UP MLA And Journalist

Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar joined the Congress on Saturday, October 3, along with former Uttar Pradesh MLA Shyam Sundar Sharma and journalist Rajat Rakesh Tandon. The development comes amid a series of political shifts involving leaders and functionaries moving between parties. The three formally joined the Congress in the presence of senior party leaders, including Congress leaders Rajeev Shukla, Syed Nasir Hussain, Pawan Khera and Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav. The party welcomed the new members and said their decision reflected their association with the Congress’s political ideology.

Kakkar, who had served as AAP’s chief national spokesperson, said she was joining the Congress with a desire to see changes in Delhi. She said she wanted the capital to regain the character of the city in which she had grown up, describing her vision of Delhi as green, clean, progressive and safe.

Speaking about her political journey, Kakkar referred to her experience of more than a decade in Indian politics. She said she believed the Congress could work towards the kind of Delhi she wanted to see. Her remarks came alongside praise for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whom she described as an authentic leader with strong convictions.

Kakkar also explained her decision to leave the AAP, raising questions about changes she said she had observed in the party’s functioning. She referred to the AAP’s earlier position on not using government bungalows and cars and contrasted it with what she described as the later use of helicopters for private travel. Her comments were part of her explanation for ending her association with the AAP and joining the Congress. The claims and criticism were made by Kakkar herself as she announced her political move.

Shyam Sundar Sharma, the former Uttar Pradesh MLA, and journalist Rajat Rakesh Tandon also joined the Congress on the same occasion. The Congress described Tandon as a journalist with more than two decades of experience and noted his association with the family of freedom fighter Purushottam Das Tandon.

The entry of the three comes at a time of political activity across several parties. The Congress has recently inducted leaders and functionaries from different political backgrounds in various states. Kakkar’s move is particularly notable because of her previous role as one of the AAP’s prominent public voices. Her departure marks a shift from representing the party’s positions to joining the Congress and publicly explaining her reasons for making the change.