Lucknow, October 3, 2026: The Congress has announced a major leadership reshuffle in Uttar Pradesh, appointing three-time MLA Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ as the new president of the state unit and Saharanpur MP Imran Masood as working president. The changes come months before the 2027 Assembly elections, as the party seeks to strengthen its organisation and prepare for the upcoming political contest.
Mishra replaces Ajay Rai, who had led the Uttar Pradesh Congress since August 2023. The appointments were approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and take immediate effect, according to the party’s announcement.
The reshuffle also includes changes to the party’s legislative and organisational leadership. Chaudhary Virendra Singh has been appointed Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Uttar Pradesh, while Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad have been named senior vice-presidents of the state unit.
Aradhana Mishra’s Political Journey
Aradhana Mishra, widely known as Mona, represents the Rampur Khas Assembly constituency in Pratapgarh district. She first entered the Uttar Pradesh Assembly through a by-election in 2014 and retained the seat in the 2017 and 2022 elections.
Before her appointment as state Congress president, Mishra served as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party. She is the daughter of senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, who has a long political association with the Rampur Khas constituency.
Her elevation places a woman leader at the head of the state organisation at a crucial stage before the next Assembly election. The party will now look to her leadership to coordinate its state-level activities, strengthen its presence across districts and prepare workers for the electoral campaign.
Imran Masood Gets Key Organisational Role
The appointment of Imran Masood as working president gives the Congress another prominent leader in its Uttar Pradesh team. Masood is the sitting MP from Saharanpur and has been active in western Uttar Pradesh politics.
He won the Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 general election. His new responsibility is expected to involve organisational coordination and strengthening the party’s outreach in different parts of the state.
The leadership change also brings together leaders with political bases in different regions of Uttar Pradesh. While Mishra represents Rampur Khas in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Masood’s political base is in the western part of the state.
More Changes in the State Congress Team
The Congress has also appointed Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad as senior vice-presidents. Their inclusion adds further representation to the state leadership structure.
Chaudhary Virendra Singh, an MLA from Pharenda, will take over as Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, a position previously held by Mishra. The party’s decisions indicate a wider reorganisation rather than a change limited to the state president’s post.
Focus Shifts to the 2027 Assembly Elections
The appointments come as political parties begin preparing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The state has 403 Assembly constituencies and remains a major arena in national politics.
For the Congress, the immediate organisational challenge will be to expand its grassroots presence, coordinate state and district-level leadership, and establish a clear campaign structure. Its relationship with Samajwadi Party, an INDIA bloc partner, may also remain an important factor in discussions ahead of the election.
The new leadership team will have to translate organisational changes into activity on the ground. While the appointments indicate the Congress’s preparation for the 2027 contest, their political impact will become clearer through the party’s future decisions, alliance discussions and campaign work.
