Priyanka Kakkar Joins Congress (Img: Screengrab from X/ @INCongress)
New Delhi: Former Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar joined the Congress on Saturday after resigning from the AAP, saying she could no longer defend what she described as “indefensible” actions of her former party.
Kakkar joined the Congress in New Delhi and spoke about her decision at a press conference. She said she wanted to see a Delhi that was green, clean, progressive and safe, and expressed her belief that Congress could deliver that vision.
Explaining her decision to leave the AAP, Kakkar alleged that the party had moved away from some of the principles it had projected when she joined it.
I am joining the Congress party today with immense pride because I want back the Delhi I grew up in. I want the green, clean, progressive and safe Delhi that was such an important part of my growing-up years.
After more than a decade of experience in Indian politics, I truly… pic.twitter.com/cGVOflHbpc
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 3, 2026
She referred to the party’s earlier position against certain privileges and alleged that some leaders later travelled in private helicopters. Kakkar said she found it increasingly difficult to defend such actions.
She also alleged that some leaders who, according to her, had not demonstrated sufficient organisational work at the booth level were subsequently given positions and privileges elsewhere.
Kakkar also spoke positively about Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. She described him as an authentic political leader and said she believed he had continued to express his views despite political pressure.
She also referred to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raised concerns about voting rights and electoral institutions.
Her comments on these issues reflected her stated reasons for joining Congress and her assessment of the current political environment.
Kakkar joined the AAP in 2013 after being inspired by party convenor Arvind Kejriwal. She was appointed the party’s national spokesperson in 2023 and subsequently handled several organisational responsibilities.
According to her profile, she served as Telangana observer from 2017 to 2019 and later worked as legal head for the South Delhi parliamentary constituency. She was also associated with Raghav Chadha’s Lok Sabha campaign.
Between 2021 and 2023, Kakkar served as an adviser to Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. She also worked as a legal observer for Uttar Pradesh and was part of a monitoring committee for the state organisation.
Kakkar holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Pennsylvania and has practised law for 17 years, according to the report.
Her move to Congress comes amid continued political activity involving opposition parties ahead of several upcoming electoral contests.
