Congress names Aradhana Misra Mona UP chief, Imran Masood working president

The Congress on Friday appointed three-time MLA Aradhana Misra ‘Mona’ as president of its Uttar Pradesh unit, replacing Ajay Rai as the party undertook a significant organisational reshuffle ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Saharanpur MP Imran Masood was simultaneously appointed working president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, with both appointments taking immediate effect.

Leadership overhaul

The changes went beyond the two top appointments. The Congress named Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad as senior vice-presidents of the UPCC, while Chaudhary Virendra Singh was appointed Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Misra had held the legislature party position before her elevation as state president.

The reshuffle comes as the Congress begins preparing its organisation for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The party currently has a limited presence in the Assembly, making the rebuilding of its district and state-level organisation an important part of its preparations for the next electoral contest.

Three-time MLA takes charge

Misra, 52, represents Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh district and has won the constituency three times. She entered the Assembly after winning a 2014 bypoll and retained the seat in the 2017 and 2022 elections.

She is the daughter of senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, who represented Rampur Khas for nine consecutive terms before moving to national politics. The constituency has consequently remained closely associated with the Tiwari family for decades.

Misra has been active in Uttar Pradesh politics for more than two decades and has worked closely with the Congress leadership on state campaigns. She was also associated with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's organisational and campaign initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, including the “Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon” campaign.

Masood gets key role

The appointment of Imran Masood as working president gives the Saharanpur MP a prominent organisational role alongside Misra. Masood is among the Congress's better-known leaders in western Uttar Pradesh and returned to the Lok Sabha from Saharanpur in the 2024 general election.

The combination of Misra and Masood had been under consideration as the central leadership discussed changes to the UP organisation. Reports ahead of Friday's announcement had also indicated that the party was considering leaders from different communities for senior organisational positions.

Ajay Rai makes way

Misra succeeds Ajay Rai, who had headed the Uttar Pradesh Congress since August 2023. Rai, a former MLA from Varanasi, contested the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, 2019 and 2024.

The change marks the end of Rai's more than three-year stint at the helm of the state organisation. During his tenure, the Congress fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, with the Congress winning six seats in the state.

The Congress and Samajwadi Party remain significant players in the Opposition space in Uttar Pradesh, though the precise shape of their arrangements for the 2027 Assembly election will depend on future negotiations and political developments.

Focus shifts to 2027

The new leadership will now be tasked with strengthening the Congress organisation across Uttar Pradesh, where the party has struggled in successive Assembly elections despite improving its Lok Sabha performance in 2024.

For Misra, the immediate organisational challenge will involve expanding the party's grassroots structure while coordinating with its senior state leaders. Masood, Nishad, Prasad and Virendra Singh will form part of the leadership arrangement as the Congress moves into its preparations for the 2027 contest.