Congress Appoints Aradhana Misra-Mona President of Uttar Pradesh Unit, Imran Masood Working President Ahead of 2027 Assembly Elections

The Congress party appointed state legislator Aradhana Misra-Mona as president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood as working president on October 2, 2026, replacing Ajay Rai ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections, according to The Print, ANI, and Latestly. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the appointments with immediate effect in a notification signed by AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal. Misra-Mona, daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari and a three-time MLA from Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh district, previously served as leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state assembly. The party also appointed Chaudhary Virendra Singh as the new CLP leader, and named Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad as senior vice presidents. The party acknowledged the contributions of outgoing president Rai, who held the post since August 2023.

The reshuffle signals Congress's attempt to revitalize its Uttar Pradesh organization after the party won only six of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats and holds just two of 403 assembly seats. Misra-Mona's deep political experience and connections—she is considered close to senior leader Priyanka Gandhi—give Congress a new face with grassroots ties ahead of a crucial state contest. However, the party faces entrenched competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party in a state where Congress has struggled to regain relevance for over a decade. The appointment's success will depend on whether Misra-Mona can rebuild organizational strength, candidate selection, and voter appeal in time for the 2027 polls.

Sources

The Print, October 2, 2026, theprint.in | ANI, October 2, 2026, aninews.in | Latestly, October 2, 2026, latestly.com