The Congress on Friday carried out a major reshuffle of its Uttar Pradesh organisation, appointing three-time MLA Aradhana Misra 'Mona' as president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) and Saharanpur MP Imran Masood as the unit's working president.
Misra, the MLA from Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh district, replaces Ajay Rai, who had headed the state unit since August 2023. The appointments, announced with immediate effect, come as the party prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Who is Aradhana Misra
Misra is a prominent woman leader in the state Congress and until now served as leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. She is the daughter of senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, the Rajya Sabha deputy leader who held the Rampur Khas seat through multiple elections between 1980 and 2012.
Considered close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Misra accompanied her on visits to the homes of women and other victims of atrocities in districts including Hathras, Unnao, Umbha, Sidharthanagar and Lakhimpur Kheri in recent years, and joined her on the party's women-centred "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls.
Other appointments
The party also named Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad as senior vice-presidents of the UPCC and approved the appointment of Chaudhary Virendra Singh as the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party, a post Misra had held until now. The Congress said it appreciated the contributions of outgoing chief Ajay Rai.
Reacting to her appointment, Misra told ANI: "I would like to express my deep gratitude to our top leadership of the party for entrusting me with this significant responsibility. I will discharge this duty with complete dedication and integrity."
The Hindu described the appointments as an attempt by the party to forge a social coalition of Brahmin, Muslim and Dalit communities — Misra and Masood hail from the Brahmin and Muslim communities respectively — while political experts quoted by the New Indian Express said the changes reflected the party's focus on Brahmins, minorities, OBCs and Dalits.
Sources: Congress appoints Aradhana Misra Mona as UP president (The Indian Express); Aradhana Misra Mona appointed as new chief of Uttar Pradesh Congress (The Hindu)
Misra, the MLA from Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh district, replaces Ajay Rai, who had headed the state unit since August 2023. The appointments, announced with immediate effect, come as the party prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Who is Aradhana Misra
Misra is a prominent woman leader in the state Congress and until now served as leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. She is the daughter of senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, the Rajya Sabha deputy leader who held the Rampur Khas seat through multiple elections between 1980 and 2012.
Considered close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Misra accompanied her on visits to the homes of women and other victims of atrocities in districts including Hathras, Unnao, Umbha, Sidharthanagar and Lakhimpur Kheri in recent years, and joined her on the party's women-centred "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon" campaign ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls.
Other appointments
The party also named Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad as senior vice-presidents of the UPCC and approved the appointment of Chaudhary Virendra Singh as the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party, a post Misra had held until now. The Congress said it appreciated the contributions of outgoing chief Ajay Rai.
Reacting to her appointment, Misra told ANI: "I would like to express my deep gratitude to our top leadership of the party for entrusting me with this significant responsibility. I will discharge this duty with complete dedication and integrity."
The Hindu described the appointments as an attempt by the party to forge a social coalition of Brahmin, Muslim and Dalit communities — Misra and Masood hail from the Brahmin and Muslim communities respectively — while political experts quoted by the New Indian Express said the changes reflected the party's focus on Brahmins, minorities, OBCs and Dalits.
Sources: Congress appoints Aradhana Misra Mona as UP president (The Indian Express); Aradhana Misra Mona appointed as new chief of Uttar Pradesh Congress (The Hindu)
