AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar defects to Congress with UP MLA

Priyanka Kakkar, a prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) figure, formally switched her political allegiance to the Indian National Congress on Thursday, marking another significant defection from the AAP in recent months. Kakkar made the move alongside former Uttar Pradesh MLA Shyam Sunder Sharma and party functionary Rajat Rakesh Tandon, with the transition taking place in the presence of senior Congress leadership.

Kakkar cited principled reasons for her departure, stating she could "no longer defend the indefensible" while remaining with the AAP. Her remarks suggested deep ideological or strategic differences with her former party's direction and policy positions. The Congress leadership welcomed the incoming members, signaling the party's continued efforts to consolidate anti-BJP opposition forces across northern India.

The defection adds to the political churn affecting the AAP, which has faced multiple senior-level departures over the past year. Sharma's exit is particularly significant given his legislative experience in Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress has been attempting to rebuild its organizational presence ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.