New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI) The Congress on Friday appointed Aradhana Misra-Mona the president of its Uttar Pradesh unit and named MP Imran Masood the working president, effecting a major organisational reshuffle ahead of the assembly polls in the state next year.
Mona, daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, replaces Ajay Rai, who has been the Uttar Pradesh Congress president since August 2023.
The party also named Chaudhary Virendra Singh as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Uttar Pradesh. Mona was the CLP leader until now.
Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad have been appointed senior vice presidents of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC), according to a party statement.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed the president, working president and senior vice presidents of the UPCC with immediate effect, it said.
The party appreciates the contributions of the outgoing PCC President Ajay Rai, the statement said.
Kharge also approved the appointment of Singh as the leader of the CLP in Uttar Pradesh with immediate effect, it said.
With these appointments, the Congress has sought to strike a social balance, with a Brahmin appointed as president, a Muslim as working president and Rajendra Pal Gautam, the AICC in-charge of the state, being a Dalit leader.
However, Masood’s appointment as working president could ruffle feathers in the Samajwadi Party (SP) as the Saharanpur MP has recently been trading barbs with the Akhilesh Yadav-led party.
Masood’s appointment is also seen as an attempt to garner the support of Muslims in western Uttar Pradesh.
Mona’s appointment as UPCC president gives the party an electorally strong leader. She won her seat even when the Congress was routed in the last assembly election.
Her appointment also boosts the party’s efforts to woo women in the state.
With these appointments, the focus now shifts to the Congress’ seat-sharing talks with the SP, with both sides likely to play hardball.
Elections in Uttar Pradesh are due early next year. PTI ASK RHL
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