India
oi-Ashish Rana
The Congress on Friday appointed Aradhana Misra-Mona as the new president of its Uttar Pradesh unit and named Saharanpur MP Imran Masood as working president, bringing in key organisational changes ahead of the state assembly elections next year.
Congress appointed Aradhana Misra-Mona as UP president and Saharanpur MP Imran Masood as working president, alongside Chaudhary Virendra Singh as CLP leader, ahead of next year’s state assembly elections, aiming for social balance.
Who Is Aradhana Misra-Mona?
Mona, the daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, will succeed Ajay Rai, who had headed the Uttar Pradesh Congress since August 2023.
The party also appointed Chaudhary Virendra Singh as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Uttar Pradesh. Mona had previously held the CLP leader’s post.
Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad have also been appointed senior vice presidents of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC), according to the party statement.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed the president, working president and senior vice presidents of the UPCC with immediate effect, it said.
The party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing PCC President Ajay Rai, the statement said.
VIDEO | Lucknow: On her appointment as new UP Congress President, Aradhana Misra ‘Mona’ (@aradhanam7000) says, “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our senior leadership, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for considering me… pic.twitter.com/5EFq3q0KA2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 2, 2026
Imran Masood Named Working President
Kharge also approved the appointment of Singh as the leader of the CLP in Uttar Pradesh with immediate effect, it said.
With these appointments, the Congress has sought to strike a social balance, with a Brahmin appointed as president, a Muslim as working president and Rajendra Pal Gautam, the AICC in-charge of the state, being a Dalit leader.
However, Masood’s appointment as working president could ruffle feathers in the Samajwadi Party (SP) as the Saharanpur MP has recently been trading barbs with the Akhilesh Yadav-led party.
Congress Eyes Muslim And Women Voters
Masood’s appointment is also seen as an attempt to garner the support of Muslims in western Uttar Pradesh.
Mona’s appointment as UPCC president gives the party an electorally strong leader. She won her seat even when the Congress was routed in the last assembly election.
Her appointment also boosts the party’s efforts to woo women in the state.
Seat-Sharing Talks With SP In Focus
With these appointments, the focus now shifts to the Congress’ seat-sharing talks with the SP, with both sides likely to play hardball.
Elections in Uttar Pradesh are due early next year.
