In a major organisational reshuffle months ahead of state polls, the Congress has named two new chiefs of its Punjab and Uttar Pradesh units. Aradhana Misra Mona has been appointed to lead the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit, replacing Ajay Rai, who had been at the helm of the Congress’s UP unit since August 2023. Meanwhile, hockey legend Pargat Singh has been selected to head the party in Punjab.
The leadership changes arrive as both state units prepare for upcoming electoral battles. In Uttar Pradesh, the appointment of Mona—a three-time MLA from Rampur Khas and daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari—is accompanied by a broader organisational lineup. The party also named Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood as working president and chose Chaudhary Virendra Singh as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, a position previously held by Mona. Devender Nishad and Alok Prasad were appointed as senior vice presidents.
Leadership Transition in Punjab
Pargat Singh’s elevation to the top party post in Punjab followed rising infighting within the state unit. Two days prior to the announcement, Amarinder Raja Singh Warring resigned as the Punjab Congress chief following a heated battle with former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Unlike the extensive lineup changes in Uttar Pradesh, the state chief’s appointment was the only change announced for Punjab, where the party selected a Jat Sikh face over other potential contenders such as Vijay Inder Singla.
Reactions and Outlook for Upcoming Polls
Outlining her goals for the upcoming electoral cycle, Mona expressed confidence that her party will win the 2027 elections. We will take on the government over the BJP’s failures, be it the SIR issue, unemployment, law and order, or inflation. In 2027, the BJP will be ousted, and an INDIA alliance government will be formed in Uttar Pradesh,
she said.
The changes have also drawn attention to broader political alignments. Both Mona and her father are seen as close to Akhilesh Yadav, whose Samajwadi Party welcomed the leadership change and called for a coordinated campaign. At the same time, the appointments set the stage for upcoming seat-sharing discussions and political maneuvering as elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab draw closer.
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