The Congress has appointed Aradhana Misra-Mona as the new president of its Uttar Pradesh unit, replacing Ajay Rai ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. A three-time MLA from Rampur Khas and leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state Assembly, Misra takes charge as the party reorganises its state leadership.
The Indian National Congress announced the appointment on Friday, October 2, 2026. The leadership reshuffle also includes the appointment of Saharanpur MP Imran Masood as working president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC). The changes come as political parties prepare for the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Who Is Aradhana Misra-Mona?
Aradhana Misra, popularly known as Aradhana Misra-Mona, is a senior Congress politician from Uttar Pradesh. She represents the Rampur Khas Assembly constituency in Pratapgarh district and has served as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
She is the daughter of veteran Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, who represented Rampur Khas for several terms and has held prominent positions in the party.
Misra has built her political career largely around the Rampur Khas constituency, where her family has maintained a longstanding presence in state politics.
Her appointment as state Congress president places her in charge of the party’s organisation in India’s most populous state.
Aradhana Misra-Mona’s Political Career
Misra entered the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly through a by-election in 2014. She subsequently retained the Rampur Khas seat in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections.
Her experience as an elected representative and as the Congress Legislature Party leader has given her a role in the party’s legislative activities in Uttar Pradesh.
As an MLA, she has participated in Assembly proceedings and represented issues concerning her constituency. Her work in the state legislature has also made her one of the Congress party’s established leaders in Uttar Pradesh.
Before her elevation to the state presidency, she was primarily known for her legislative role and her association with the party’s organisation in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Who Is Her Father, Pramod Tiwari?
Pramod Tiwari is a veteran Congress leader with a long political career in Uttar Pradesh. He represented Rampur Khas in the state Assembly for nine consecutive terms between 1980 and 2012, according to published reports.
He has also served in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament.
The Tiwari family’s political association with Rampur Khas has been a significant feature of the constituency’s electoral history. Aradhana Misra’s repeated victories from the seat have continued that political connection.
However, her new role as state Congress president carries responsibilities beyond her constituency, including overseeing the party’s organisation across Uttar Pradesh.
Why Has Congress Replaced Ajay Rai?
The appointment comes as Congress prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Reorganising the state leadership gives the party an opportunity to adjust its organisational structure and prepare for the electoral campaign.
Ajay Rai, who previously headed the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, has been replaced by Misra as part of the latest leadership changes.
The appointment does not, by itself, establish what role Rai may have in the party’s future activities. Further details about the organisational transition and responsibilities of outgoing office-bearers depend on official party announcements.
Uttar Pradesh is an important state in national politics because of its large electorate and its representation in the Lok Sabha. Political parties typically focus on strengthening their state organisations in preparation for Assembly and parliamentary elections.
Imran Masood Named Working President
Alongside Misra’s appointment, Congress named Imran Masood, the party’s MP from Saharanpur, as working president of the Uttar Pradesh unit.
Masood is an established Congress politician from western Uttar Pradesh. His appointment forms part of the broader changes to the state party leadership announced on October 2.
The party has also appointed Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad as senior vice presidents, according to media reports.
Together, these appointments represent a restructuring of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee ahead of the next Assembly election.
What Challenges Lie Ahead for Aradhana Misra-Mona?
As the new state president, Misra will be responsible for coordinating party activities across Uttar Pradesh, working with district-level leaders and helping prepare the organisation for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Her responsibilities will include managing organisational coordination, engaging with party workers, communicating the party’s positions and overseeing preparations for electoral contests.
The Congress will also need to coordinate its state-level strategy with its national leadership and address questions concerning cooperation with other opposition parties.
The precise priorities of Misra’s presidency will become clearer through official announcements and the party’s subsequent organisational decisions.
Conclusion
Aradhana Misra-Mona’s appointment marks a change in the leadership of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. A three-time MLA from Rampur Khas and the daughter of veteran politician Pramod Tiwari, she brings legislative experience to the state presidency.
With Imran Masood appointed working president, Congress has announced a wider reshuffle of its Uttar Pradesh organisation.
The next phase will involve translating the leadership changes into organisational activity as the party prepares for the upcoming state elections.
