The Congress has replaced Ajay Rai with Aradhana Misra as its Uttar Pradesh state president in a major organisational shake-up ahead of the state elections.
With elections just around the corner, the Congress has changed its state presidents in two poll-bound states-Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The newly appointed presidents, however, will now focus their energies on rebuilding and running the organisation in their own way.
The previous state presidents had appointed district-level chiefs according to their own preferences.
In Uttar Pradesh, Aradhana Misra will have the constant support of her father, Pramod Tiwari, who has a long-standing presence in the state’s politics. Tiwari has served as an MLA nine times-a rare feat achieved by very few leaders. Notably, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also been elected to Parliament nine times, and both leaders currently serve in the Rajya Sabha. Kharge is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, while Tiwari is the Deputy Leader. However, only time will tell what the Congress hopes to achieve by replacing Ajay Rai-a Bhumihar leader-with Aradhana Misra, a Brahmin. Political observers point out that Rai put up a strong fight when the Congress fielded him against the Prime Minister in Varanasi. He had also recently filed a defamation suit against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Journalists covering the Congress had anticipated this development and were already aware of who was likely to become the next state president. The more intriguing question is whether Aradhana Misra’s appointment is also linked to her father’s strong rapport with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav-a relationship that could potentially help facilitate smoother seat-sharing arrangements between the Congress and the SP. Yet, the Congress has simultaneously appointed Saharanpur MP Imran Masood as Working President-a leader known for frequently taking positions against the SP. In effect, the party has placed two leaders with contrasting political approaches in key organisational positions: one with established relations with the SP leadership, and another with an appeal among Muslim voters. The pairing brings together a Brahmin face from eastern UP and a Muslim with influence in the west, striking a caste-regional balance the party rounded out by appointing Rajendra Pal Gautam, a Dalit, as state in-charge.
His track record as a street-fighter for the Congress therefore raises questions about the rationale behind his removal.
Earlier reporting noted: LUCKNOW/CHANDIGARH: Congress overhauled its PCC brass in two poll-bound states Friday, installing Rampur Khas MLA Aradhana “Mona” Mishra as the UP unit chief and hockey Olympian Pargat Singh as state president in Punjab, with each pick engineered around caste arithmetic ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
Earlier reporting noted: Congress abruptly replaces Ajay Rai as state chief in poll-bound UP In UP, Ajay Rai was abruptly replaced by Mishra while Saharanpur MP Imran Masood was named working president. Earlier reporting noted: In UP, Ajay Rai was abruptly replaced by Mishra while Saharanpur MP Imran Masood was named working president.
